The substitution of minimally processed food and culinary home preparations for ready-to-eat products is increasing worldwide, which is overlooked as a cause of concern. The technological developments and the rise in highly processed food availability have introduced the concept of ultra-processed food (UPF). Food classification systems based on processing are now a new basis for epidemiological research. Different results from these classifications might influence conclusions on the population’s consumption of UPF or its association with health outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare classification systems and to find out if their results are comparable when evaluating the extent of high/UPF on the overall diet. Portuguese data from the year 2000 was extracted from the DAFNE-AnemosSoft, and 556 food/beverages items were classified according to five systems. The contribution of UPF was calculated as a percentage of total available amount and discrepancy ranges used for comparisons. Results of UPF availability contributions were: NOVA 10.2%; UNC 15.2%; IFPRI 16.7%; IFIC 17.7%; IARC 47.4%. The highest discrepancy ranges were from alcoholic beverages (97.4%), milk/milk products (94.2%), sugar/sugar products (90.1%), added lipids (74.9%), and cereals/cereal products (71.3%). Inconsistencies among classifications were huge and the contribution from highly/UPF presented high discrepancies. Caution must be taken when comparing and interpreting such data.

Ultra-processed food (UPF) can be harmful to the population’s health. To establish associations between UPF and health outcomes, food consumption can be assessed using availability data, such as purchase lists or household budget surveys. The aim of this systematic review was to search studies that related UPF availability with noncommunicable diseases or their risk factors. PRISMA guidelines were used. Searches were performed in PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus and Web of Science in February 2021. The search strategy included terms related to exposure (UPF) and outcomes (noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors). Studies that assessed only food consumption at an individual level and did not present health outcomes were excluded. Two reviewers conducted the selection process, and a third helped when disagreement occurred. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to assess the studies’ quality; 998 records were analyzed. All 11 eligible studies were ecological and assessed overweight and obesity as a health outcome, only one showed no positive association with UPF availability. Two studies included the prevalence of diabetes as an outcome, however no significant association was found with UPF availability. Studies relating UPF availability and health outcomes are focused on overweight and obesity. It is necessary to further explore the relationship between other health outcomes and UPF availability using purchase or sales data.

Resumo O ganho de peso na vida adulta pode ser responsável por doenças crônicas, e seu acompanhamento pode ser um subsídio para evitar esses agravos. O objetivo foi analisar o ganho de peso e fatores associados em trabalhadores de um hospital privado no município do Rio de Janeiro. Trata-se de uma coorte retrospectiva com 686 trabalhadores, que realizaram ao menos dois exames de saúde ocupacionais (admissional e periódico) entre os anos de 2010 e 2015. O método de Kaplan-Meier e o modelo de regressão semiparamétrico de riscos proporcionais de Cox foram utilizados. A incidência de ganho de peso dos trabalhadores do hospital foi de 22 casos/100 pessoas-ano. O ganho de peso nos trabalhadores com mais de 30 anos foi 35% menor (p < 0,001), quando comparado ao ganho de peso naqueles de até 30 anos. Em relação à escolaridade, as taxas de incidência de ganho de peso nos trabalhadores de níveis fundamental e médio se apresentaram maiores, com magnitude de até 61%, comparadas aos de nível superior completo (p < 0,001); e no setor de trabalho considerado fechado foi 63% maior quando comparada ao setor aberto (p < 0,001). Ganho de peso é um fenômeno multifacetado e complexo, podendo os setores de trabalho de uma unidade hospitalar contribuir fortemente para a ocorrência do mesmo.

No abstract

Background Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption increases worldwide, which can be harm to population's health. To establish associations between UPF and health outcomes, food consumption can be assessed individually or by using availability data, such as purchase lists or household budget surveys. The aim of this review was to search for studies on the availability of UPF related with mortality and morbidity from noncommunicable diseases or their risk factors. Methods PRISMA guideline was used. Searches were performed on PubMED, EBSCO, Scopus and Web of Science on December 2019. Search strategy included terms related with exposure (UPF) and outcomes (mortality or morbidity from noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors). Studies were selected based on the title and abstracts. Full texts were screened for eligibility and the snowballing method was used to find other relevant studies. To be based on UPF availability data and its relation with health outcomes were the inclusion criteria. Studies that assessed only food consumption at an individual level and did not present health outcome were excluded. Selection was conducted by two reviewers and a third helped when disagreement occurred. Results After duplicates removal, 560 records were analyzed. From the 11 eligible studies, 55% were conducted in more than one country. Others were performed in Brazil (27%), Guatemala (9%) and Sweden (9%). Studies were ecological (64%), cross-sectional (27%) and longitudinal (9%). All had representative samples, 45.5% were national samples, and the others were from particular population subgroups. In all studies, the only health outcomes that showed positive association with UPF availability were overweight and obesity prevalence. Conclusions Studies relating ultra-processed food availability and health outcomes are mainly focused on overweight and obesity. It is thus necessary to further explore the relationship between UPF availability and other health outcomes. Key messages It is necessary to further research association between ultra-processed food availability and other health outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes or cancer. Purchase lists or household budget surveys are an important source of food availability data and can be used to relate the consumption of ultra-processed foods to health outcomes.