May 7, 2025 05:34 PM
(This post was last modified: May 7, 2025 05:44 PM by C C.)
Junk food for thought: Landmark Canadian study directly links ultra-processed foods to poor health
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1082930
INTRO: A landmark study exploring Canadians’ consumption of chips, frozen pizzas, breakfast cereals and other ultra-processed foods typically loaded with fat, sugar and additives has confirmed these foods are directly and significantly linked to poor health outcomes.
Researchers at McMaster University investigated the relationship between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and risk factors including blood pressure, cholesterol levels (LDL and HDL), waist circumference and body mass index (BMI). Their study is the first in Canada to leverage population-based and robust biomarker data to examine this relationship.
The team analyzed data from more than 6,000 adults across Canada, representing a diverse range of ages, health conditions and socio-economic backgrounds. The subjects completed a questionnaire for the Canadian Health Measures Survey, conducted by Health Canada and Statistics Canada, and were then personally assessed at mobile clinics.
Individuals who consumed the most UPF were more likely to be men, and to have lower income levels, less education and to have reported lower fruit and vegetable intake. They had significantly higher BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, insulin, and triglyceride levels than those who consumed the least UPF.
Researchers noted that many links between UPF consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors remained significant even after adjusting for BMI, suggesting that ultra-processed foods may influence health through mechanisms beyond weight gain, such as inflammation, insulin resistance, and poor metabolic regulation – all well-established predictors of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The associations persisted even after adjusting for physical activity, smoking, the total amount of food consumed and socioeconomic factors including income and education... (MORE - details, no ads)
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1082930
INTRO: A landmark study exploring Canadians’ consumption of chips, frozen pizzas, breakfast cereals and other ultra-processed foods typically loaded with fat, sugar and additives has confirmed these foods are directly and significantly linked to poor health outcomes.
Researchers at McMaster University investigated the relationship between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and risk factors including blood pressure, cholesterol levels (LDL and HDL), waist circumference and body mass index (BMI). Their study is the first in Canada to leverage population-based and robust biomarker data to examine this relationship.
The team analyzed data from more than 6,000 adults across Canada, representing a diverse range of ages, health conditions and socio-economic backgrounds. The subjects completed a questionnaire for the Canadian Health Measures Survey, conducted by Health Canada and Statistics Canada, and were then personally assessed at mobile clinics.
Individuals who consumed the most UPF were more likely to be men, and to have lower income levels, less education and to have reported lower fruit and vegetable intake. They had significantly higher BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, insulin, and triglyceride levels than those who consumed the least UPF.
Researchers noted that many links between UPF consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors remained significant even after adjusting for BMI, suggesting that ultra-processed foods may influence health through mechanisms beyond weight gain, such as inflammation, insulin resistance, and poor metabolic regulation – all well-established predictors of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The associations persisted even after adjusting for physical activity, smoking, the total amount of food consumed and socioeconomic factors including income and education... (MORE - details, no ads)