INTRODUCTION

Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are frequently consumed by children, possibly contributing to childhood obesity. It is unknown if UPF consumption among Australian children differentiates by sociodemographic factors.

OBJECTIVES

To describe schoolchildren's intake of UPF across sexes, age, geographic location and socioeconomic status (SES). To analyse associations between UPF intake and indicators of obesity.

METHODS

UPF consumption of children aged 8-12 years in Victoria (Australia) was examined using 24-h dietary-recall data classified by the NOVA system. UPF intake was compared across sociodemographic groups. Regression analysis explored the association between UPF intake and BMI z-score, overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity.

RESULTS

UPF comprised 47.2% of total energy intake (range 23.7%-72.2%), with no significant differences across sex, age group (8-9 vs. 10-12 years), geographic location or SES. Including all children, there were no associations between UPF intake and obesity indicators. In age-stratified models, among children aged 10-12 years, a 10% increment in the proportion of UPF in the diet (% g/day) was significantly associated with a 0.07 (95% CI 0.01, 0.12) higher body mass index (BMI) z-score and a 19% (odds ratio 1.19, 95% CI 1.07, 1.33) increase in the odds of central obesity. No associations between UPF intake and indicators of obesity were found in the younger 8- to 9-year-old group.

CONCLUSIONS

UPF contributed greatly to the dietary intake of primary schoolchildren. Among older children, higher intake of UPF was associated with higher BMI z-score and central adiposity. Further longitudinal research in Australian pediatric samples to understand UPF impact upon adiposity outcomes across different stages of childhood is needed.