Mixed
Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is significantly associated with increased body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and higher odds of obesity and abdominal obesity in Australian adults.
Focus on reducing the proportion of ultra-processed foods in your diet. This study links higher UPF intake to higher BMI and waist circumference, independent of physical activity. Try to replace packaged snacks, sugary drinks, and ready meals with whole or minimally processed foods to improve satiety and reduce obesity risk.
Significant (P-trend ≤ 0.001) direct dose–response associations between the dietary share of ultra-processed foods and indicators of obesity were found after adjustment. In the multivariable regression analysis, those in the highest quintile of ultra-processed food consumption had significantly higher BMI (0.97 kg/m2; 95% CI 0.42, 1.51) and WC (1.92 cm; 95% CI 0.57, 3.27) and higher odds of having obesity (OR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.27, 2.04) and abdominal obesity (OR = 1.38; 95% CI 1.10, 1.72) compared with those in the lowest quintile of consumption.
Why this rating
The study is a large, nationally representative cross-sectional analysis with robust adjustment for confounders, but causality cannot be established due to the observational design.
Source
Ultra-processed food consumption and obesity in the Australian adult population
Priscila Machado et al. · Nutrition and Diabetes · 2020
DOI 10.1038/s41387-020-00141-0
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