Young Britons already get two-thirds of their daily calories from ultra-processed products, which worries scientists because such a diet is far less healthy than fresh ingredients.
Ultra-processed foods are manufactured in industrial processes and often contain preservatives, sweeteners, colors, flavors, and emulsifiers. Although there are significant differences between products, the nutritional quality is often lower.
In many cases, they contain higher levels of added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium, and lower levels of fiber, protein, and micronutrients. This makes them among the prime suspects in the rise of diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
Two-thirds
To find out how popular ultra-processed foods are among young people, the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol examined the food diaries of nearly 3,000 teenagers between 2008 and 2018.
It appears that an average of 66% of adolescents’ daily energy intake now comes from ultra-processed foods. Parental occupation, ethnic group and region also appear to influence the share.
For example, teens from disadvantaged backgrounds more often chose ultra-processed foods, while youth of non-white ethnicity were less likely to eat ultra-processed foods.
Easy and cheap
“Ultra-processed foods often provide convenient and cheap solutions for families with little time or income,” says Esther van Sluijs, a researcher at the University of Cambridge. “But unfortunately, many of these foods also provide poor nutritional value. This can contribute to the health disparities we see emerging in childhood and adolescence.”
Because food choices are also influenced by marketing and politics, researchers are calling for stricter rules.
“Adolescents’ eating patterns and practices are influenced by many factors, including the home environment, marketing, and the influence of their friends and peers,” says Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde of the University of Cambridge. “But it is also an important period in our lives when behaviour begins to take root.”
