IT'S hardly surprising teens are getting the majority of their calories from ultra-processed foods (UFPs) - two-thirds to be exact. Adults aren’t much better, with half the average diet composed of UPFs . What is shocking is that toddlers in the UK obtain nearly half (47 per cent) of their calories from UPFs.
News alarming enough to prompt a Pringle's binge, perhaps. The study, published by researchers from University College London (UCL), found this rises to 59 per cent by the age of seven. Experts said that eating patterns in early years can start habits which continue into adulthood.
Read more on UPFs They said that "it is not easy" to feed children healthily when highly processed foods are often cheaper than fruit and vegetables . UPFs marketed for children often contain excessive amounts of salt and sugar, researchers said. "It has been suggested that the hyperpalatable nature of some UPF may partly drive continued consumption of these foods, which goes beyond habit formation," the authors wrote.
UFPs are also often high in fat and sugar and low in fibre, which raises the risk of weight gain. Most read in Health They include tasty and convenient fizzy drinks, pre-packed snacks like crisps and biscuits, breakfast cereals and ready meals. Previous research has linked them to cancers, anxiety , high blood pressure , obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The team also highlighted foods which "mimic" UPFs, but aren't actually classed as such - including vegetable puff.