A study has found that each additional 100 grams of ultra-processed foods consumed daily could be associated with a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular events. The research, which involved data from 51 studies across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania with over 8.8 million participants aged 23 to 77, also indicated that a 10% increase in weight from energy intake due to these foods was linked to a 16% greater risk of metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
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Participants who consumed large amounts of ultra-processed foods were at a higher risk for various health issues: cardiovascular events (24%), cancer (12%), obesity or overweight (23%), metabolic syndrome or diabetes (24%), and depression and anxiety (27%). Additionally, the study found associations with digestive diseases (31%), high blood pressure (11%), and a general increase in risk of death from any cause (18%).
The authors noted that each additional 100 grams per day of these foods corresponded to an 11% higher risk of hypertension, a 4% higher cancer risk, and a 3% higher all-cause mortality risk. They also observed that a 10% increase in energy intake from ultra-processed foods was associated with a 16% higher risk of metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
Emerging evidence suggests that various additives in ultra-processed foods may create a 'cocktail effect' impacting health. Laboratory studies have shown that the physical changes in these foods can negatively affect the gut microbiome and promote inflammation and insulin resistance. Compounds formed during processing, like acrylamide and acrolein, have been linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk.
The authors emphasized that reducing the intake of ultra-processed foods and replacing them with minimally processed alternatives could be important for preventing chronic diseases and managing primary care.
This study was published in the journal Family Medicine and Community Health.
PTI Published - September 23, 2026 04:06 pm IST