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High consumption of ultraprocessed foods in children as young as 3 years of age was associated with adiposity and other cardiometabolic risk factors, a study in found.

In this exclusive video interview, study author Nadine Khoury, MSc, a PhD candidate in the human nutrition unit at the University of Rovira i Virgili in Spain, discusses the new research.

The following is a transcript of her remarks:

This study aims to investigate the association between ultraprocessed food consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors in almost 1,500 children aged between 3 to 6 years old from the current cohort from Spain.

The results basically showed that children who consumed more ultraprocessed foods had higher levels of adiposity parameters such as BMI [body mass index], waist circumference, fat mass index, and also fasting plasma glucose. Children who consumed more ultraprocessed food had lower levels of HDL [high-density lipoprotein] cholesterol -- which is the good cholesterol -- in their blood.

Also, we saw that when substituting 100 g of ultraprocessed food with 100 g of unprocessed food, it was associated with lower cardiometabolic health indicators such as BMI, fat mass, and fasting plasma glucose.

I also want to note that the clinical significance of these associations may be considered of limited clinical relevance, but it is important to note that when we saw this association with glucose and HDL cholesterol and the adiposity parameters at such a young age, it is very important to take them [seriously]. If we saw these associations at such a young age, implications later in life may appear.

The associations between ultraprocessed food and an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases have been long reported in studies, but with adults. For this reason our study is important because we assess these associations with children. In addition, our study is important because it provides new insight into the relationship between ultraprocessed food consumption and its potential adverse health effects at such a young age. It highlights the critical role of early dietary habits and patterns in shaping the future of cardiometabolic health outcomes.

In this study, we also saw some disparities in ultraprocessed food consumption. Children of mothers with lower education level and lower socioeconomic background tend to consume more ultraprocessed foods, and it makes them more prone to future health problems.

That's why I really want to emphasize that we need to take some actions, especially public health initiatives, to help vulnerable populations.

Some people are making some initiatives for public health, such as the front-of-pack labeling systems that have been proven and validated to help consumers make healthier food choices. However, they need more validation because sometimes front-of-pack label systems cannot [capture] the whole dimensions of food. For example, it may [capture] the nutritional dimension of food, but maybe there's some discrimination in ultraprocessed food products.

That's why I think public health should ameliorate the front-of-pack labeling system, because it has been proven to help children make healthier food choices.

This study is a cross-sectional study, and therefore we cannot be absolutely sure about the cause and effect relationship. That's why further perspective and longer periods of follow-up are needed to validate our results.

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