Ultra-processed food intake in relation to metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity.

BACKGROUND

Many studies have explored the association between food intake and metabolic health. However, research on the association of consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and metabolic health in children and adolescents remains unclear. The objective of our study was to investigate the relation between UPFs consumption and metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight/obesity.

METHODS

For this cross-sectional study, we selected a sample of 203 adolescents (101 boys and 102 girls) with a mean age of 13.98 ± 1.61 who were chosen using a multistage cluster random sampling method. We collected data on their dietary patterns using a validated 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, we measured anthropometric indices, blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles. Participants were categorized to either metabolically healthy or unhealthy overweight/obesity (MHO and MUO) based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and IDF/ Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) criteria.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that every 10 g/d increase in UPFs consumption was related to an elevated odds of MUO as defined by the IDF (OR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.08-1.19) and IDF/HOMA-IR (OR = 1.14; 95%CI; 1.08-1.19) criteria, after controlling all confounders. The severity of this association varied among girls and boys and also among those with overweight and obesity according to the applied definitions. Moreover, each 10 g/d increase in daily UPFs intake was associated with increased odds of metabolic factors including hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hypertension, and high insulin resistance levels.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlighted a direct association between higher UPFs consumption and MUO status among adolescents.