In a recent study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, researchers investigated the levels and patterns of ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption in a representative sample of adolescents in the UK.
Study: Ultra-processed food consumption among UK adolescents: distribution, trends and socio-demographic correlates from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008/09 to 2018/19. Image credit: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com
UPF Consumption Trends
The worldwide surge in diet-related chronic diseases is linked to UPF, which is made from cheap industrial ingredients and additives, is high in added sugars, unhealthy fats and sodium and lacks essential nutrients.
Poor dietary quality is linked to increased obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mortality. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to UPF marketing and, as a result, are the ones most likely to consume these unhealthy foods.
Rates of UPF consumption vary by country and socioeconomic status, with higher intakes in high-income countries. For example, adolescents in Canada and the United States obtain a significant portion of their caloric intake from UPF.
Expanded availability and marketing of UPF have led to increased consumption over time. Understanding these trends, especially among adolescents, is crucial for developing effective public health strategies to reduce UPF intake and improve health outcomes.
About the Research
Data were analysed from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), which collects detailed information on food intake, nutrients and health from a representative sample of the UK population using food diaries to record eating habits over a four-day period. The study analysed data from 11-18 year olds who completed at least three days of the diet to determine UPF intake patterns across 11 waves from 2008 to 2019.
Foods were classified based on their level of processing, with UPF defined as group 4. Relative energy intake from UPF measured as a percentage of total calories and absolute weight (in grams) of UPF consumed per day were recorded. Socio-demographic data including age, sex, socio-economic status, ethnicity, and region were also collected.
Statistical methods were used to determine associations between dietary UPF and a range of individual characteristics including age, sex and socio-economic status. All data were adjusted to accurately represent the UK population.
research result
Of the 2,991 young people in the UK surveyed, 51% were female, 43% had parents in high-ranking jobs, 66% were of normal weight, 83% were white and 44% lived in the south of England, including London. Among young people aged 16 to 18, 26.7% did at least 124 minutes of physical activity every day.
Study participants consumed an average of 1,741 calories per day, of which 66% came from UPFs, and an average of 2,004 grams of food per day, of which 861 grams came from UPFs.
During the first year, adolescents consumed an average of 994 grams of UPF daily, after which intake decreased over the course of the study.
Adolescents with parents in manual occupations consumed 5% more UPF of total energy than adolescents with parents in managerial jobs. Non-White adolescents consumed 8% less UPF than White adolescents. Adolescents in the South of England consumed 3% less UPF than adolescents in the North of England.
Age and weight also influenced UPF consumption: older 17-18 year olds and obese young people consumed more UPF. In comparison, non-white young people, females, and young people living in the south of England and Northern Ireland consumed less UPF.
Conclusion
Although UPF consumption has continued to decline over time, the current study observed that adolescents from lower socio-economic backgrounds, of White ethnicity, and living in the North of England consumed more UPF. Findings suggest that UPF consumption varies significantly by age, ethnicity, parental occupation, and region.
Strengths of the current study include a large, representative sample and detailed food diary data, although notable limitations include a lack of household income data and possible misclassification of UPF items.
Further research is needed to clarify the health effects of UPF intake and establish safe dietary levels. Addressing these factors may help improve dietary habits in adolescents and prevent diet-related diseases.
Journal References:
Chavez-Ugalde, IY, de Vocht, F., Jago, R., et al. (2024). Ultra-processed food consumption among UK adolescents: distribution, trends and socio-demographic correlates from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008/09 to 2018/19. European Journal of Nutrition. doi:10.1007/s00394-024-03458-z, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-024-03458-z
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