Children who consume more ultra-processed foods gain weight faster and grow more slowly. The results of the study point to the need for “early interventions that limit the consumption of ultra-processed foods, to promote adequate growth in children and young people”.
Researchers from (ISPUP) concluded that children who consume more ultra-processed foods gain weight faster and grow more slowly, it was revealed this week.
In the study, researchers evaluated the relationship between different consumption patterns of ultra-processed foods throughout childhood and growth trajectories and adiposity [acumulação de gordura] from childhood to adolescenceclarifies, in a statement, the institute at the University of Porto.
The investigation used data from 8,647 children from a longitudinal study by the institute that, since 2005, has been following children born in public maternity hospitals in the Porto Metropolitan Region and their mothers.
Children’s food consumption was assessed at 4, 7 and 10 years of age, using questionnaires, and foods were classified according to the degree of processing.
The study identified four consumption patterns of ultra-processed foods between four and 10 years old: “constantly lower consumption” (15.4% of the sample), “constantly intermediate consumption” (56.4% of the sample), “transition from lower to higher consumption“, that is, lower than 4 and 7 years old and high at 10 (17.2% of the sample) and “constantly higher consumption” (17.1% of the sample).
To assess body weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference and percentage of fat mass, Researchers analyzed information from ages 4 to 13.
“The findings revealed that a high consumption of ultra-processed foods in childhood was associated with a greater acceleration in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference and percentage of fat mass in adolescence.”
Ultra-processed consumption vs growth
The high consumption of these foods This also translated into a “lesser acceleration at height”.
At 4 years old, 16.9% of the foods they consumed daily were ultra-processed, at 7 years old 19.4% and to 10 years 25.6%.
“Interestingly, no pattern of decreasing consumption of ultra-processed foods over time was found”highlights, cited in the statement, the author of the study, Vânia Magalhães.
The researchers also assessed whether the Growth and adiposity trajectories throughout childhood were related to consumption patterns of ultra-processed foods.
“Our results showed that the dose and duration of exposure to ultra-processed foods contribute to worse growth and adiposity trajectories at these ages”adds the researcher.
Need for “early interventions”
According to Vânia Magalhães, the results of the study point to the need for “early interventions that limit the consumption of ultra-processed foods, to promote adequate growth in children and young people”he defends.
The study authored by Vânia Magalhães was supervised by Carla Lopes, both from the ISPUP Epidemiology Research Unit.
