Research
Mixed
High consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with increased risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and all-cause mortality in adults.
Limit ultra-processed foods to reduce your long-term risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and early mortality. Focus on whole foods for better health outcomes.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
A meta-analysis of 43 studies... indicated that the consumption of UPFs was associated with an increased risk of overweight... obesity... abdominal obesity... all-cause mortality... and metabolic syndrome in adults.
Why this rating
Based on meta-analyses and systematic reviews of observational studies, which are prone to residual confounding.
Source
Ultra-processed Foods, Weight Gain, and Co-morbidity Risk
Anthony Crimarco et al. · Current Obesity Reports · 2021
DOI 10.1007/s13679-021-00460-y
narrative_reviewCited 146×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) causes increased energy intake and weight gain compared to whole foods, independent of matched macronutrients.Good
- Ultra-processed foods contribute disproportionately to daily energy intake in high-income countries, often exceeding 50% of total calories.Good
Related findings · Mixed
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