Ultra-processed food consumption and obesity in the Australian adult population
Machado PP, Steele EM, Levy RB, da Costa Louzada ML, Rangan A, Woods J, Gill T, Scrinis G, Monteiro CA
Nutrition & diabetes · 119 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
- Intake measured by
- Food diaries or recalls
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- University or hospital
- Universidade de São Paulo
- Government
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (São Paulo Research Foundation)
- Grants
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (2016/13168‐5); Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (2015/); Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (15/14900-9); Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (2017/24601-4)
Based on 3 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2020-12-05 · Nutr Diabetes · vol. 10 · issue 1 · p. 39
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Cited
- 187 citations · more than 99% of similar papers · 15.8× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 53 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Consumer Packaging Perceptions and Trends
- Keywords
- Obesity, Waist, Environmental health, Body mass index, Medicine, Anthropometry, Population, Consumption (sociology), Food group, Food consumption, Food science, Biology, Agricultural economics
- MeSH
- humans, obesity, body mass index, exercise, diet, nutrition surveys, risk factors, cross-sectional studies, feeding behavior, energy intake, nutritive value, food handling, adult, aged, middle aged, australia, female, male, waist circumference, young adult, obesity, abdominal, fast foods
9 authors
From AU, BR
- Priscila Pereira MachadoDeakin University; Universidade de São Paulo
- Eurídice Martínez SteeleUniversidade de São Paulo
- Renata Bertazzi LevyUniversidade de São Paulo; Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo
- Maria Laura da Costa LouzadaUniversidade de São Paulo
- Anna RanganThe University of Sydney
- Julie WoodsDeakin University
Abstract
Background
Rapid simultaneous increases in ultra-processed food sales and obesity prevalence have been observed worldwide, including in Australia. Consumption of ultra-processed foods by the Australian population was previously shown to be systematically associated with increased risk of intakes of nutrients outside levels recommended for the prevention of obesity. This study aims to explore the association between ultra-processed food consumption and obesity among the Australian adult population and stratifying by age group, sex and physical activity level.
Methods
A cross-sectional analysis of anthropometric and dietary data from 7411 Australians aged ≥20 years from the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2011-2012 was performed. Food consumption was evaluated through 24-h recall. The NOVA system was used to identify ultra-processed foods, i.e. industrial formulations manufactured from substances derived from foods and typically added of flavours, colours and other cosmetic additives, such as soft drinks, confectionery, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, microwaveable frozen meals and fast food dishes. Measured weight, height and waist circumference (WC) data were used to calculate the body mass index (BMI) and diagnosis of obesity and abdominal obesity. Regression models were used to evaluate the association of dietary share of ultra-processed foods (quintiles) and obesity indicators, adjusting for socio-demographic variables, physical activity and smoking.
Results
Significant (P-trend ≤ 0.001) direct dose-response associations between the dietary share of ultra-processed foods and indicators of obesity were found after adjustment. In the multivariable regression analysis, those in the highest quintile of ultra-processed food consumption had significantly higher BMI (0.97 kg/m2; 95% CI 0.42, 1.51) and WC (1.92 cm; 95% CI 0.57, 3.27) and higher odds of having obesity (OR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.27, 2.04) and abdominal obesity (OR = 1.38; 95% CI 1.10, 1.72) compared with those in the lowest quintile of consumption. Subgroup analyses showed that the trend towards positive associations for all obesity indicators remained in all age groups, sex and physical activity level.
Conclusion
The findings add to the growing evidence that ultra-processed food consumption is associated with obesity and support the potential role of ultra-processed foods in contributing to obesity in Australia.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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