Impact of the consumption of ultra-processed foods on children, adolescents and adults’ health: scope review

Author(s)

Maria Laura da Costa Louzada ^[1] ; Caroline dos Santos Costa ^[2] ; Thays Nascimento Souza ^[3] ; Gabriela Lopes da Cruz ^[4] ; Renata Bertazzi Levy ^[5] ; Carlos Augusto Monteiro ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública - Brasil

^[5] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Cadernos de Saúde Pública; v. 37, 2022-04-20.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to conduct a literature scope review of the association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and health outcomes. The search was carried out in the PubMed, Web of Science and LILACS databases. Studies that assessed the association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods, identified on the NOVA classification, and health outcomes were eligible. The review process resulted in the selection of 63 studies, which were analyzed in terms of quality using a tool from the National Institutes of Health. The outcomes found included obesity, metabolic risk markers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, asthma, depression, frailty, gastrointestinal diseases and mortality indicators. The evidence was particularly consistent for obesity (or indicators related to it) in adults, whose association with the consumption of ultra-processed foods was demonstrated, with dose-response effect, in cross-sectional studies with representative samples from five countries, in four large cohort studies and in a randomized clinical trial. Large cohort studies have also found a significant association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer - even after adjusting for obesity. Two cohort studies have shown an association of ultra-processed foods consumption with depression and four cohort studies with all-cause mortality. This review summarized the studies’ results that described the association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and various non-communicable diseases and their risk factors, which has important implications for public health. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/06852-5 - Ultra-processed food consumption and Obesity risk
• Grantee: Caroline dos Santos Costa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• 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