Ultra-processed foods comprise 2/3rd of calories in kid, teen diets

According to a new study from researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, ultra-processed foods have become a larger part of kids’ and teens’ diets, which may be associated with health risks.The findings of the study were published in the journal ‘JAMA’. The calories that children and adolescents consumed from ultra-processed foods jumped from 61 per cent to 67 per cent of total caloric intake from 1999 to 2018.The study analysed dietary intake from 33,795 children and adolescents nationwide.

“Some whole-grain breads and dairy foods are ultra-processed, and they’re healthier than other ultra-processed foods. Processing can keep food fresher longer, allows for food fortification and enrichment, and enhances consumer convenience,” said senior and corresponding author Fang Fang Zhang, a nutrition epidemiologist at the Friedman School.

“But many ultra-processed foods are less healthy, with more sugar and salt, and less fibre, than unprocessed and minimally processed foods, and the increase in their consumption by children and teenagers is concerning,” added Zhang.

The largest spike in calories came from such ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat dishes as takeout and frozen pizza and burgers: from 2.2 per cent to 11.2 per cent of calories.

The second-largest spike in calories came from packaged sweet snacks and desserts, the consumption of which grew from 10.6 per cent to 12.9 per cent.There was a larger increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods among non-Hispanic Blacks (10.3 per cent) and Mexican Americans (7.6 per cent) than non-Hispanic Whites (5.2 per cent). Trends in other racial/ethnic groups were not assessed due to a lack of sufficient data that allow for nationally representative estimates across survey cycles.

There were no statistically significant differences in the overall findings by parental education and family income. “The lack of disparities based on parental education and family income indicates that ultra-processed foods are pervasive in children’s diets,” said Zhang.

“This finding supports the need for researchers to track trends in food consumption more fully, taking into account consumption of ultra-processed foods,” explained Zhang.

Over the study period, calories from often healthier unprocessed or minimally processed foods decreased from 28.8 per cent to 23.5 per cent.The remaining percentage of calories came from moderately processed foods such as cheese and canned fruits and vegetables, and consumer-added flavour enhancers such as sugar, honey, maple syrup, and butter.

There was good news: Calories from sugar-sweetened beverages dropped from 10.8 per cent to 5.3 per cent of overall calories, a 51 per cent drop.“This finding shows the benefits of the concerted campaign over the past few years to reduce overall consumption of sugary drinks,” said Zhang.“We need to mobilise the same energy and level of commitment when it comes to other unhealthy ultra-processed foods such as cakes, cookies, doughnuts and brownies,” added Zhang.