Ultraprocessed Food Intake and Adverse Cardiovascular Risk Profiles in Children

Consuming ultraprocessed foods (e.g., pastries, cookies, candy, sugary beverages) with high levels of additives and preservatives is associated with adverse cardiometabolic profiles in adults. In this cross-sectional Spanish study, researchers looked at this relation in children using data from a multicenter, longitudinal study of childhood obesity. About 1500 children (mean age, 5 years) were categorized into low, medium, and high tertiles based on their intake of ultraprocessed food.

Compared with children in the low tertile of ultraprocessed food intake, those in the high tertile had higher carbohydrate intake, a lower proportion of total energy intake as fat, and lower intake of monounsaturated fat. The high-tertile group also had lower …