TWO thirds of a British teenager’s diet is rubbish, according to a study.
Researchers at the universities of Cambridge and Bristol estimate that 66% of calories come from ultra-processed fatty foods.
They analyzed food diaries of 2,991 young people aged 11 to 18 between 2008 and 2019.
There was a small decline throughout the decade, but packaged snacks and meals still made up the majority of their diets.
Study author Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde from the University of Cambridge said: “It is clear from our findings that ultra-processed foods make up the majority of teenagers’ diets.
“Its consumption is at a level much higher than ideal, given its potential negative impacts on health.
“There is a growing body of evidence linking UPF consumption to poor diet quality and diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.”
Ultra-processed foods offer convenient and often cheap solutions, but also with low nutritional value
Dr. Esther van Sluijs
Ultra-processed foods are often high in fat and sugar and low in fiber, which increases the risk of weight gain.
They include tasty and convenient carbonated drinks, pre-packaged snacks like chips and cookies, breakfast cereals and ready-to-eat meals, researchers said.
Around a quarter of secondary school students are obese, compared with 15 percent in 1995, official figures suggest.
The study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, states that white teenagers and those living in poorer areas eat more junk food.
Esther van Sluijs, joint senior author, said: “Ultra-processed foods offer convenient and often cheaper solutions for time- and income-strapped families, but unfortunately many of these foods also offer low nutritional value.
“This may be contributing to health inequalities.”
Ultra-processed foods have become a target for health activists as numerous studies warn of health harms.
A thirty-year study by Harvard University found that a diet containing too many increases the risk of premature death.
The research, published in the British Medical Journal in May, found that those who ate the most UPF had a 13% higher risk.
Another, from Central Queensland University in Australia, said a highly processed diet increased the risk of 32 different diseases.
These included cancer, anxiety, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
How ultra-processed is YOUR kitchen?
Ultra-processed foods (UPAs) were defined by Brazilian researchers who developed the NOVA classification system. It divides foods into groups depending on how they are processed. The most natural foods are in group 1, while the most processed foods are in group 4.
Groups do not fully indicate how healthy a food is. However, it does indicate how it is processed – and studies have linked UPA to a number of diseases.
How does your kitchen compare to the following groups?
Unprocessed or minimally processed foods (group 1)
- vegetables and fruits (fresh or frozen)
- dried fruits without added sugar, honey or oil
- grains and legumes (chickpeas, lentils)
- meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs
- milk without added sugar
- natural yogurt without added sugar
- nuts and seeds
- spices and herbs
- tea, coffee, water
Processed culinary ingredients (group 2)
- iodized salt
- salted butter
- sugar and sugar cane or beet molasses
- honey extracted from combs
- Maple syrup
- crushed vegetable oils from olives or seeds
- butter and lard and pork
- starches extracted from corn and other plants
- vegetable oils with added antioxidants
- vinegar with added preservatives
Processed foods (group 3)
- canned vegetables, fruits and vegetables
- fruits in syrup
- salty or sugary nuts and seeds
- salted or smoked cured meats
- canned fish
- artisanal breads and cheeses
Ultra-processed foods (group 4)
- soft drinks and fruits
- sweetened yogurt
- sweet or savory packaged snacks (e.g. cookies)
- sweets and cake mixes
- mass-produced packaged breads and rolls
- margarines and spreads
- Breakfast cereals
- cereal and energy bars
- energetic drinks
- instant soups, sauces and noodles
- poultry and fish nuggets, hot dogs
- many products ready to heat: pre-prepared pies, pasta and pizza
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
