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Ultra-processed Foods and Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes: from Evidence to Practice

  • Nutrition (K. Petersen, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Poor diet quality is the leading risk factor related to the overall cardiometabolic disease burden in the USA and globally. We review the current evidence linking ultra-processed foods and cardiometabolic health risk and provide recommendations for action at the clinical and public health levels.

Recent Findings

A growing body of evidence conducted in a variety of study populations supports an association between ultra-processed food intake and increased risk of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity trajectories, and cardiovascular disease. The strongest evidence is observed in relation to weight gain and obesity among adults, as this association is supported by high-quality epidemiological and experimental evidence.

Summary

Accumulating epidemiologic evidence and putative biological mechanisms link ultra-processed foods to cardiometabolic health outcomes. The high intake of ultra-processed foods in all population groups and its associated risks make ultra-processed foods an ideal target for intensive health promotion messaging and interventions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Policy and Management, School of Global Public Health, New York University, 708 Broadway, NY, 10003, New York, USA

    Filippa Juul

  2. Public Health Nutrition Program, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA

    Andrea L. Deierlein & Niyati Parekh

  3. Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA

    Andrea L. Deierlein & Niyati Parekh

  4. Department of Translational Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    Georgeta Vaidean

  5. Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Paula A. Quatromoni

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  1. Filippa Juul
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Juul, F., Deierlein, A.L., Vaidean, G. et al. Ultra-processed Foods and Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes: from Evidence to Practice. Curr Atheroscler Rep 24, 849–860 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-022-01061-3

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