In young adults, consumption accounted for nearly 50% of daily energy intake.
A UPF-based dietary pattern in children and adolescents showed an inverse association with body mass index (BMI) and fat mass index.
Longitudinal analysis revealed that UPF consumption in childhood and adolescence correlated with UPF consumption in adulthood among females.
Higher UPF consumption was observed in young adults with overweight compared to those with normal weight.
UPF consumption was linked to poor diet quality, characterized by lower fiber intake and higher intake of salt and energy-dense foods.
Simplified
OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess ultra-processed food () consumption, its impact on overweight and its association with weight trends from childhood and adolescence to young adulthood.
METHODS: Long-term UPF consumption (13.3 years) by NOVA was analysed (children/adolescents and adults, n = 182) in the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS, n = 10 750).
RESULTS: In children/adolescents (13.1 ± 1.9 years), a UPF-based dietary pattern showed an inverse association with BMI-SDS and fat mass index (males: r = -0.301, p = 0.01; r = -0.376, p = 0.001; females: r = -0.315, p < 0.001; r = -0.282, p = 0.003). Longitudinal analysis indicated that UPF consumption in childhood and adolescence was correlated with UPF consumption in adulthood among females (r = 0.272; p = 0.004) but not among males. In young adults (26.7 ± 2.2 years), UPF consumption accounted for nearly 50% of daily energy intake and was higher with overweight compared to normal weight and in incident overweight compared to persistent normal weight (both p < 0.05). High UPF consumption was associated with markers of poor diet quality (lower intake of fibre, higher intake of salt and energy-dense food, all p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: High UPF consumption in young adults was associated with both prevalence and incidence of overweight from childhood and adolescence to adulthood.
Key numbers
26.4%
Increase in Overweight Prevalence
Prevalence of overweight in young adults compared to childhood.
46.4%
Contribution to Daily Energy Intake
Percentage of daily energy intake from in young adults.
73.3%
Persistence of Overweight
Percentage of subjects overweight in childhood who remained overweight in adulthood.
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