Mixed
Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with greater BMI, waist circumference, and odds of obesity in adults, with a dose-response relationship observed across both sexes.
To reduce obesity risk, prioritize unprocessed or minimally processed foods and actively reduce the proportion of ultra-processed foods in your diet. The study shows a clear dose-response: as UPF intake increases, BMI and waist circumference increase significantly. This is not just about calories; the nature of these foods promotes overconsumption and metabolic disruption.
In multivariable analyses, the highest consumption of ultra-processed food was associated with 1.66 kg/m2 higher BMI (95%CI 0.96–2.36), 3.56 cm greater WC (95%CI 1.79–5.33) and 90% higher odds for being obese (OR = 1.90, 95%CI 1.39–2.61), compared with the lowest consumption.
Why this rating
Large, nationally representative cross-sectional study with robust adjustment for confounders, but observational design limits causal inference.
Source
Ultra-processed food consumption and indicators of obesity in the United Kingdom population (2008-2016)
Fernanda Rauber et al. · PLoS ONE · 2020
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