The impact of acculturation to the US environment on the dietary share of ultra-processed foods among US adults

Author(s)

Steele, Euridice Martinez ^{[1, 2]} ; Khandpur, Neha ^{[3, 1, 2]} ; Sun, Qi ^{[3, 4, 5]} ; Monteiro, Carlos A. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, Av Dr Arnaldo 715 Cerqueira Cesar, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Publ Hlth, Ctr Epidemiol Studies Hlth & Nutr NUPENS, Av Dr Arnaldo 715 Cerqueira Cesar, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Harvard TH Chan Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[4] Harvard Med Sch, Brigham & Womens Hosp, Channing Div Network Med, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[5] Harvard TH Chan Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Epidemiol, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; v. 141, DEC 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This study examined the association between measures of acculturation to the US environment including place of birth, and language spoken at home and proportion of life in the US among foreign-born, in relation to the dietary contribution of ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods, as defined by the NOVA food classification system, are formulations of macronutrients (starches, sugars, fats and protein isolates) with little, if any, whole food and often with added flavors, colors, emulsifiers and other cosmetic additives. We studied 14,663 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2016, aged 20+ years, who completed a 1-day 24-h dietary recall. Food items were classified using NOVA into ultra-processed or non-ultra processed foods. Linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, family income, education and race/ ethnicity, showed significant associations between general acculturation measures and dietary contribution of ultra-processed foods. Foreign-born adults consumed less ultra-processed foods than US-born adults (45 vs. 58%, p < 0.001). Within foreign-born adults, ultra-processed food consumption increased with English permeation at home from 40% among individuals speaking non-English languages only to 50% among those speaking English only (p for linear trend < 0.001). In addition, ultra-processed food consumption increased from 41% among foreign-born adults who spent less than 30% of their life in the US to 48% among those who lived in the US for more than 50% of their lives (p for linear trend < 0.001). Race/ethnicity emerged as an important effect modifier for the observed associations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/14900-9 - Consumption of ultra-processed foods, dietary nutrient profile diet and obesity in seven countries
• Grantee: Carlos Augusto Monteiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/22278-7 - Assessing the impact of front-of-package nutrition labeling on public health in Brazil
• Grantee: Neha Khandpur
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 18/17972-9 - Ultra-processed foods and 'protein leverage hypothesis': a study in seven countries
• Grantee: Eurídice Martínez Steele
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral