New study reveals UK adolescents consume a majority of their calories from ultra-processed foods, posing health concerns.
- UK adolescents consume two-thirds of their calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which can lead to health issues such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
- Social inequalities are associated with the consumption of UPFs, with more disadvantaged groups, white adolescents, and those not living in the south of England consuming more of these foods.
- The study analyzed data from 2,991 adolescents aged 11 to 18 using food diaries collected between 2008 and 2019.
- Consumption of UPFs varied based on individual characteristics such as age, gender, parents’ occupation, ethnicity, region, and level of physical activity.
- Strategies to reduce UPF consumption among adolescents include involving them in conversations to develop supportive strategies, improving the quality of food in schools, and increasing access to minimally processed foods.
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Public Health & Prevention, Nutrition, Pediatrics