Consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with obesity, diabetes and hypertension in Canadian adults.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in a nationally representative sample of Canadian adults.

METHODS

This study used cross-sectional data from 13,608 adults (aged 19+ years) from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition. The survey provided data on food consumption (from 24-h recall) and prevalent obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m) and self-reported diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. All foods and drinks consumed were classified according to the extent and purpose of industrial processing using the NOVA classification. Ultra-processed food consumption was estimated as proportion of total daily energy intake. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the association between ultra-processed food consumption and obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, adjusting for a range of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

In 2015, ultra-processed food contributed, on average, to 24% of total daily energy intake in the lowest tertile of ultra-processed food consumption and 73% in the highest tertile. Compared with those in the lowest tertile, adults in the highest tertile of ultra-processed food consumption had 31% higher odds of obesity (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.06-1.60), 37% higher odds of diabetes (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.01-1.85) and 60% higher odds of hypertension (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.26-2.03), adjusting for a range of covariates.

CONCLUSION

Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with higher prevalence of obesity, diabetes and hypertension among Canadian adults. A comprehensive set of strategies and policies is needed to discourage consumption of ultra-processed foods in Canada and to make unprocessed or minimally processed foods more affordable, available and appealing.