Humans have been processing food for thousands of years, and while some processing enhances food safety and shelf-life, high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is associated with health issues like obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
UPFs include items like sweetened yogurts, margarine, cereal bars, chicken nuggets, and energy drinks. In affluent countries such as the UK and the US, adults get more than half their calories from UPFs, with adolescents consuming an even higher percentage.
A recent study analyzed the consumption of UPFs among UK adolescents, revealing that two-thirds of their caloric intake comes from these foods, the highest proportion across any age group.
The study utilized data from food diaries collected by the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey between 2008 and 2019, which included 2,991 adolescents aged 11 to 18. The analysis explored relationships between UPF consumption and individual characteristics like age, gender, parents’ occupation, body weight, ethnic group, region, and physical activity levels.
The findings showed that, on average, adolescents consumed 861 grams of UPFs daily, accounting for 66% of their total energy intake. The study highlighted social inequalities in UPF consumption, with younger adolescents, those of white ethnicity, males, those from the north of England, and those from more disadvantaged backgrounds consuming higher amounts of UPFs.
Specifically, adolescents with parents in routine and manual occupations had higher UPF intake compared to those with parents in higher managerial and professional occupations.
There were notable regional differences, with adolescents in the north of England consuming more UPFs than those in the south. The largest disparity was between white and non-white adolescents, with white adolescents consuming 67% of their calories from UPFs compared to 59% for non-white adolescents.
Additionally, UPF consumption varied by year, with a general decrease in UPF intake from 68% of calories and 996 grams per day in 2008-09 to 65% of calories and 776 grams per day in 2018-19.
Addressing high UPF consumption among adolescents is crucial due to the lasting impact of dietary habits formed during this period. However, universal recommendations to reduce UPF consumption may be ineffective or counterproductive.
Instead, involving adolescents in developing supportive strategies, improving food quality in schools, and increasing access to minimally processed foods are essential steps toward fostering healthier dietary habits. Post-pandemic data will be necessary to fully understand the trends and impacts on UPF consumption.
