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Consumption of ultra-processed foods associated with weight gain and obesity in adults : A multi-national cohort study

Cordova, Reynalda ; Kliemann, Nathalie ; Huybrechts, Inge ; Rauber, Fernanda ; Vamos, Eszter P ; Levy, Renata Bertazzi ; Wagner, Karl-Heinz ; Viallon, Vivian ; Casagrande, Corinne and Nicolas, Geneviève , et al. (2021) In Clinical Nutrition 40(9). p.5079-5088
Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is a worldwide shift towards increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) with concurrent rising prevalence of obesity. We examined the relationship between the consumption of UPF and weight gain and risk of obesity.

METHODS: This prospective cohort included 348 748 men and women aged 25-70 years. Participants were recruited between 1992 and 2000 from 9 European countries in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Two body weight measures were available, at baseline and after a median follow-up time of 5 years. Foods and drinks were assessed at baseline by dietary questionnaires and classified according to their degree of processing using NOVA classification.... (More)

BACKGROUND: There is a worldwide shift towards increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) with concurrent rising prevalence of obesity. We examined the relationship between the consumption of UPF and weight gain and risk of obesity.

METHODS: This prospective cohort included 348 748 men and women aged 25-70 years. Participants were recruited between 1992 and 2000 from 9 European countries in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Two body weight measures were available, at baseline and after a median follow-up time of 5 years. Foods and drinks were assessed at baseline by dietary questionnaires and classified according to their degree of processing using NOVA classification. Multilevel mixed linear regression was used to estimate the association between UPF consumption and body weight change (kg/5 years). To estimate the relative risk of becoming overweight or obese after 5 years we used Poisson regression stratified according to baseline body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS: After multivariable adjustment, higher UPF consumption (per 1 SD increment) was positively associated with weight gain (0·12 kg/5 years, 95% CI 0·09 to 0·15). Comparing highest vs. lowest quintile of UPF consumption was associated with a 15% greater risk (95% CI 1·11, 1·19) of becoming overweight or obese in normal weight participants, and with a 16% greater risk (95% CI 1·09, 1·23) of becoming obese in participants who were overweight at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS: These results are supportive of public health campaigns to substitute UPF for less processed alternatives for obesity prevention and weight management.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Clinical Nutrition
volume
40
issue
9
pages
5079 - 5088
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85113673773
  • pmid:34455267
ISSN
1532-1983
DOI
10.1016/j.clnu.2021.08.009
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
863059b4-be02-42c8-ab68-b295c03fa7bb
date added to LUP
2021-09-06 12:40:58
date last changed
2024-09-08 22:49:02
@article{863059b4-be02-42c8-ab68-b295c03fa7bb,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: There is a worldwide shift towards increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) with concurrent rising prevalence of obesity. We examined the relationship between the consumption of UPF and weight gain and risk of obesity.</p><p>METHODS: This prospective cohort included 348 748 men and women aged 25-70 years. Participants were recruited between 1992 and 2000 from 9 European countries in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Two body weight measures were available, at baseline and after a median follow-up time of 5 years. Foods and drinks were assessed at baseline by dietary questionnaires and classified according to their degree of processing using NOVA classification. Multilevel mixed linear regression was used to estimate the association between UPF consumption and body weight change (kg/5 years). To estimate the relative risk of becoming overweight or obese after 5 years we used Poisson regression stratified according to baseline body mass index (BMI).</p><p>RESULTS: After multivariable adjustment, higher UPF consumption (per 1 SD increment) was positively associated with weight gain (0·12 kg/5 years, 95% CI 0·09 to 0·15). Comparing highest vs. lowest quintile of UPF consumption was associated with a 15% greater risk (95% CI 1·11, 1·19) of becoming overweight or obese in normal weight participants, and with a 16% greater risk (95% CI 1·09, 1·23) of becoming obese in participants who were overweight at baseline.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: These results are supportive of public health campaigns to substitute UPF for less processed alternatives for obesity prevention and weight management.</p>}},
  author       = {{Cordova, Reynalda and Kliemann, Nathalie and Huybrechts, Inge and Rauber, Fernanda and Vamos, Eszter P and Levy, Renata Bertazzi and Wagner, Karl-Heinz and Viallon, Vivian and Casagrande, Corinne and Nicolas, Geneviève and Dahm, Christina C and Zhang, Jie and Halkjær, Jytte and Tjønneland, Anne and Boutron-Ruault, Marie-Christine and Mancini, Francesca Romana and Laouali, Nasser and Katzke, Verena and Srour, Bernard and Jannasch, Franziska and Schulze, Matthias B and Masala, Giovanna and Grioni, Sara and Panico, Salvatore and van der Schouw, Yvonne T and Derksen, Jeroen W G and Rylander, Charlotta and Skeie, Guri and Jakszyn, Paula and Rodriguez-Barranco, Miguel and Huerta, José María and Barricarte, Aurelio and Brunkwall, Lousie and Ramne, Stina and Bodén, Stina and Perez-Cornago, Aurora and Heath, Alicia K and Vineis, Paolo and Weiderpass, Elisabete and Monteiro, Carlos Augusto and Gunter, Marc J and Millett, Christopher and Freisling, Heinz}},
  issn         = {{1532-1983}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{5079--5088}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Clinical Nutrition}},
  title        = {{Consumption of ultra-processed foods associated with weight gain and obesity in adults : A multi-national cohort study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2021.08.009}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.clnu.2021.08.009}},
  volume       = {{40}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}