Analysis of Survey Data from 10 Million People Worldwide
"50% Increase in Cardiovascular Death Risk and Anxiety"
Consumption of so-called 'ultra-processed foods (UPF)' such as ham, sausages, fast food, and carbonated drinks has been found to negatively affect 32 health parameters, including heart disease, diabetes, type 2 diabetes onset, and premature death.
On the 28th (local time), foreign media including the UK’s The Guardian and The Times reported on recent research by Australian researchers published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), highlighting a direct correlation between exposure to ultra-processed foods and mortality rates, cancer, mental, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal diseases across 32 health parameters.
The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. A citizen is carrying fast food while walking. Photo by Jang Jin-hyeong aymsdream@
Ultra-processed foods refer to heavily processed and altered foods primarily manufactured in factories to be ready-to-eat. These foods contain food additives such as preservatives, colorants, sweeteners, and emulsifiers. Representative ultra-processed foods include ham, sausages, instant noodles, carbonated drinks, ice cream, snacks, and ready meals. This study was conducted on approximately 10 million people worldwide and analyzed prior research data from the past three years to reach these conclusions. Experts from world-renowned institutions such as Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, University of Sydney in Australia, and Sorbonne University in France participated in the research.
The study results showed that overall, the more exposed individuals were to ultra-processed foods, the more consistently harmful health conditions increased. Higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with about a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, a 48-53% increased risk of anxiety and general mental disorders, and a 12% increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, higher consumption of processed foods was linked to a 21% increased risk of death from any disease.
Experts explain that ultra-processed foods negatively impact health because they cause systemic inflammation in the body and disrupt the human microbiome, which affects depression and anxiety. The researchers stated, "Greater exposure to ultra-processed foods was associated with negative health outcomes, particularly cardiovascular metabolic issues, general mental disorders, and mortality." They added, "These findings provide a basis for developing and evaluating population-based and public health measures to reduce exposure to ultra-processed foods to improve human health."
The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Ramen section at a large supermarket in Seoul / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
There are also limitations to this study. Other unmeasured factors and variables besides ultra-processed food intake may have influenced the results. Generally, people who consume a lot of ultra-processed foods tend to have unhealthy lifestyles, but such variables were not accounted for in this study.
Carlos Monteiro, a Brazilian nutritionist who first proposed the concept of 'ultra-processed foods,' commented on the study, saying, "Ultra-processed foods are chemically manipulated cheap ingredients combined with flavorings, colorants, emulsifiers, thickeners, and other additives. There is no reason to believe humans can fully adapt to such products."
In addition to this study, independent research warning about the dangers of ultra-processed foods is emerging one after another. Some argue that ultra-processed foods have addictive properties comparable to alcohol and tobacco, and advocate for warning labels on ultra-processed food packaging or restrictions on advertising.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
