Who hasn’t been tempted by supermarket aisles filled with biscuits, chips and other snackable treats, or attracted by the simplicity of pre-packaged meals? But these highly processed foods come at a cost to your health. Consistent evidence shows diets high in ultra-processed foods are associated with an increased risk of 32 adverse health outcomes, according to a new review of 45 meta-analyses.
The research, published in The BMJ newspaper on Wednesday, found that higher exposure to these foods can be harmful to health in a variety of ways, including a higher risk of cancer, serious heart and lung diseases, gastrointestinal problems, obesity, type 2 diabetes, sleep problems, mental health problems and premature death. .
Ultra-processed foods, which “undergo multiple industrial processes and often contain colors, emulsifiers, flavors and other additives”, a Press release explains, include products such as:
- Packaged baked goods and snacks
- Soft drinks
- Sweet cereals
- Instant noodles
- Other ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat meals
“These products also tend to be high in added sugar, fat and/or salt, but are low in vitamins and (fiber),” the release notes.
How much do these foods increase your health risk? It depends. The authors organized their findings based on the strength of the evidence for different questions.
For example, they found “compelling” evidence that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, at a 48% to 53% increased risk. anxiety and common mental disorders, and at a 12% increased risk. higher risk of type 2 diabetes. “Highly suggestive” evidence indicates 21% higher risk of death from any cause; a 40-66% increased risk of death from heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and sleep problems; and a 22% increased risk of depression.
However, evidence for a potential link to asthma and gastrointestinal health, for example – while showing an association between ultra-processed foods and adverse health effects – remains more limited.
Previous research has highlighted the negative effects on health and addictive quality processed foods, but this research provides a broad review of the evidence in this area by integrating results from dozens of studies all published over the past three years with nearly 10 million participants in total.
“Undertaking such a comprehensive study has the potential to improve our understanding of these associations and provide valuable information to better inform public health policies and strategies,” the authors write.
The findings could also serve as a wake-up call to consumers in the United States and other high-income countries, where ultra-processed foods account for up to 58% of total daily calorie consumption, the study notes. .
“Notably, over the past decades, the availability and variety of ultra-processed products sold have increased significantly and rapidly in countries at different levels of economic development,” the authors write.
They are urging officials to prioritize public health by taking steps such as moving to the front of the pack. food labels and economic policies that make fresh, minimally processed foods more accessible and affordable.
