Ultra-processed food consumption and its association with risk of obesity, sedentary behaviors, and well-being in adolescents

The existing research on the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) categorized by the NOVA classification is limited. The purpose of this study by Machado-Rodrigues et al. (2024) was to (i) compare the perceptions of well-being, sedentary behavior, and UPF consumption between boys and girls and (ii) investigate the association between weight risk, sedentary behavior, and adolescent well-being and UPF consumption. This cross-sectional study included 245 adolescents (131 boys) aged 12 to 17 (M = 14.20; SD = 1.09). Bioelectrical impedance was used to quantify body fat % after height and weight measurements were taken and BMI was computed. The Midlands Behavior Health 2024 questionnaire was used to quantify sedentary time, and the NOVA screener was used to estimate daily UPF intake, while the psychosocial well-being of teenagers was assessed using the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF). Data analysis revealed no gender differences in the consumption of UPF across the NOVA subscales. Boys reported higher computer usage on weekends and spent more time playing electronic games during the week and weekends than girls. Boys also scored higher in all well-being dimensions compared to girls. After adjusting for gender, sedentary time, and active behaviors, adolescents consuming UPF the previous day showed a tendency towards higher overweight risk, though this was not statistically significant. Interestingly, teenagers who had moms with greater educational attainment were less likely to be overweight or obese. [NPID: ultra-processed food, obesity, well-being, sedentary behaviors, adolescence]

Year: 2024

Reference: Machado-Rodrigues, A. M., Padez, C., Rodrigues, D., Dos Santos, E. A., Baptista, L. C., Liz Martins, M., & Fernandes, H. M. (2024). Ultra-processed food consumption and its association with risk of obesity, sedentary behaviors, and well-being in adolescents. Nutrients, 16(22), 3827. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16223827

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