If you eat ultra-processed foods, your risk of obesity may go up. In this episode of NewsMD's "Health Fusion," Viv Williams shares details of a new study that shows what this means for kids.
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Kids who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods are at increased risk of developing obesity. And researchers from Brazil have calculated that risk — 45%.
Researchers put kids in the study into three groups. The group that ate the most ultra-processed foods was more likely to be obese, more likely to have fat around their waists and more likely to have visceral fat (fat on and around the abdominal organs). This type of fat correlates with the development of high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and a heightened risk of death.
Study first author Daniela Neri says ultra-processed food and drinks contain additives that make them more appealing so they make you want to eat them. She says this contributes to weight gain, and kids who eat them are being programmed for future health problem.
"Many ultra-processed foods have high energy density and contain a great deal of sugar and fat, all of which contributes directly to weight gain,” says Neri.
The solution? Neri says families can't take it all on themselves. She suggests new public policy efforts, such as restricted advertising and clearer information on labels to help consumers make better choices.
The study is published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.