Examining the diversity of ultra-processed food consumption and associated factors in Canadian adults

Feb 20, 2020Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme

Variety of ultra-processed food eating habits and related factors in Canadian adults

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Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Almost all Canadian adults (99.0%) consume ultra-processed foods (UPFs) at least once weekly.

The study analyzed UPF consumption data from 6062 Canadian adults, representing 24.7 million individuals.
Men, younger respondents, those with higher incomes, and individuals with obesity showed greater diversity in UPF consumption.
Significant associations were found between UPF diversity and younger age and higher body mass index (BMI) for both men and women.
Women’s UPF diversity was also associated with geographic region.
Chocolate, chips/pretzels, cold breakfast cereal, and fast foods were the most commonly consumed UPFs among Canadians.

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Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption is increasing globally at an unprecedented rate. We investigated UPF consumption among Canadian adults and associated sociodemographic and health-related factors. This study was a secondary analysis of the Foodbook study (2014-2015), which collected self-reported data on foods consumed by Canadians during a 7-day period. UPF diversity was assessed by summing the different types of UPFs consumed in the previous week to produce a diversity score. Descriptive statistics summarized UPF diversity among subgroups in Canada. Regression models identified significant associations between UPF diversity, body mass index (BMI), and sociodemographic variables. This study included 6062 participants, aged 18 years and older, representing 24.7 million Canadian adults. Almost all Canadian adults (99.0%) consumed UPFs at least once weekly. The most common UPFs consumed were chocolate, chips/pretzels, cold breakfast cereal, and fast foods. UPF diversity was greatest among men, young respondents, those with high income, and those with obesity. When controlling for potential confounders, UPF diversity for men and women was significantly associated with younger age and higher BMI; it was also associated with region for women. This study suggests UPF consumption in Canada varies across sociodemographic subgroups, but ultimately is pervasive. Further research examining potential health risks associated with UPF consumption is encouraged to inform Canadian interventions.Almost all Canadians consume at least one type of ultra-processed food weekly. Nearly half or more Canadians consume chocolate, chips/pretzels, cold breakfast cereal, or fast food at least once weekly. Gender, age, and BMI are consistently associated with ultra-processed food diversity. Novelty:

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Examining the diversity of ultra-processed food consumption and associated factors in Canadian adults

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