Ultra-Processed Foods Link to Major Health Issues, Finds Comprehensive Review
A new study highlights the link between high consumption of ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of various health issues, including cancer, heart and lung diseases, mental health problems, and premature death. Despite previous research on the subject, this comprehensive review of nearly 10 million participants underscores the urgent need for public health interventions and further research into the detrimental effects of these foods.
Findings underscore the need for urgent research to understand how ultra-processed foods affect health and measures to target and reduce exposure.
Consistent evidence shows that higher exposure to ultra-processed foods is associated with an increased risk of 32 damaging health outcomes including cancer, major heart and lung conditions, mental health disorders, and early death.
A new comprehensive review published recently by The BMJ, encompassing 45 distinct meta-analyses from 14 review articles and involving almost 10 million participants, highlights the harmful effects of diets high in ultra-processed food on many body systems. This emphasizes the necessity for urgent measures to reduce dietary exposure and enhance understanding of the mechanisms that link these foods to poor health.
Ultra-processed foods undergo multiple industrial processes, contain additives, and are often high in added sugars, fats, and salts. These foods include packaged baked goods, snacks, fizzy drinks, sugary cereals, and ready-to-eat or heat products. However, they tend to be low in vitamins and fiber. Their consumption has significantly increased in recent decades, accounting for up to 58% of total daily energy intake in some high-income countries, and experiencing rapid growth in low and middle-income nations as well.
Comprehensive Review of the Evidence
Prior studies have linked highly processed food to poor health, but this comprehensive review fills a gap by providing a broad assessment of the evidence in this area.
Conducted by researchers, the review collected data from 45 pooled meta-analyses, covering the past three years and involving nearly 10 million participants. The analyses were of high quality and were not funded by companies associated with the production of ultra-processed foods.
The evidence consistently showed that higher exposure to ultra-processed foods significantly increased the risk of 32 adverse health outcomes. Among the convincing evidence, a higher intake of ultra-processed foods linked to a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48-53% increased risk of anxiety and common mental disorders, and a 12% higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, highly suggestive evidence indicated a 21% higher risk of death from any cause, a 40-66% increased risk of heart disease-related death, obesity, type 2 diabetes, sleep problems, and a 22% increased risk of depression, among others. Though evidence for other health issues remains limited, such as asthma, gastrointestinal health, some forms of cancer, and cardiometabolic risk factors.
Calls for Action and Further Research
The researchers acknowledge that this review provides a high-level overview and particular factors not considered in the analyses may have an impact.
Still, the rigor and quality of the analyses suggest that urgent mechanistic research and public health actions targeting and minimizing ultra-processed food consumption are necessary for improved population health.
Additional steps to control and reduce the production and consumption of ultra-processed foods were suggested, including the implementation of front-of-pack labels, restrictions on advertising, prohibition of sales near schools and hospitals, as well as fiscal and other initiatives to make wholesome foods more accessible and affordable than ultra-processed alternatives.
Moreover, the researchers proposed the development and implementation of an international framework convention on ultra-processed foods, akin to the framework on tobacco, calling for examples of best practices to be promoted.
Efforts should also be focused on multidisciplinary investigations to identify effective ways to control and reduce the level of ultra-processing, and to evaluate the cost-benefits and other effects of various policies and actions on human health and welfare, society, culture, employment, and the environment.
Reference: “Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses” 28 February 2024, BMJ.
DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-077310
