Ultra‐processed food intake and risk of obesity among schoolchildren aged 8–12 years living in Victoria, Australia

TL;DR

This study found that ultra-processed foods make up nearly half of schoolchildren's diets in Victoria, Australia, and are linked to higher BMI and obesity in older children.

Contribution

The study is the first to examine the association between ultra-processed food intake and obesity in Australian children aged 8–12.

Findings

Ultra-processed foods accounted for 47.2% of total energy intake among children.

Higher UPF intake in 10–12-year-olds was associated with increased BMI z-scores and central obesity.

No significant associations were found between UPF intake and obesity in 8–9-year-olds.

Abstract

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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