Study of 10 Million Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Death, Heart Disease and Mental Disorders
Updated
Updated · The Mirror · Jul 5
Study of 10 Million Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Death, Heart Disease and Mental Disorders
2 articles · Updated · The Mirror · Jul 5
Summary
More than 10 million people were covered in a BMJ umbrella review that found higher ultra-processed food intake was linked to worse health outcomes, with particularly strong evidence for all-cause mortality.
Prof Felice Jacka said 70% of the health outcomes examined were associated with greater exposure to ultra-processed foods, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, anxiety, poor sleep, wheezing and obesity.
Jacka also pointed to cancer links and said the effects on brain and mental health have received less attention than obesity, even as common mental disorders showed up in the evidence.
In practical terms, she said emulsifiers are a useful shorthand for spotting ultra-processed foods, while Prof Tim Spector said such products now make up about 60% of the UK diet.