WEB DESK : Fresh evidence from a comprehensive study is bolstering concerns over the impact of ultra-processed foods on health outcomes. The study, spanning three decades and tracking the dietary habits of participants, uncovered a slight but significant increase in mortality risk among those consuming higher quantities of certain ultra-processed foods.
Published in The BMJ, the research delved into data from over 100,000 US adults without prior history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. Through detailed food questionnaires completed every four years from 1986 to 2018, researchers analyzed dietary patterns and their correlation with mortality risk.
Participants reporting the highest consumption of ultra-processed foods, averaging around 7 servings per day, faced a 4 per cent higher risk of death from any cause compared to those consuming the lowest amounts, approximately 3 servings per day.
Ultra-processed foods encompass a wide array of items, including packaged snacks, sugary beverages, and ready-to-eat meals. Laden with additives, sugars, and unhealthy fats while lacking essential nutrients like fiber and vitamins, these foods pose significant health risks.
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Notable categories associated with increased mortality risk included ready-to-eat meat and seafood products, sugary drinks, dairy-based desserts, and highly processed breakfast foods. Lead author Mingyang Song stressed the need to discern individual categories within the umbrella of ultra-processed foods, noting that some may contain beneficial ingredients despite overall health risks.
Despite the study’s robust scope and long-term duration, it carries inherent limitations as an observational study, preventing definitive cause-and-effect conclusions. Moreover, the predominantly White and non-Hispanic composition of the participant pool raises questions about the generalisability of the findings.
Nevertheless, the researchers underscored the importance of curbing consumption of certain ultra-processed foods for long-term health benefits. They called for further investigations to refine food classification methods and validate findings across diverse populations.
This latest study echoes earlier research published earlier this year, which identified a myriad of adverse health outcomes associated with high ultra-processed food intake, ranging from cancer and heart conditions to mental health disorders and premature death.
