Premature Mortality Attributable to Ultraprocessed Food Consumption in 8 Countries
Eduardo A F Nilson1, Felipe Mendes Delpino2, Carolina Batis3
1Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz/Brasilia), Brasília, Brazil; Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Providencia, Chile; Center for Epidemiological Studies in Health and Nutrition, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|April 28, 2025
Summary
High ultraprocessed food consumption is linked to increased mortality risk. This global study found that these foods contribute to a significant burden of premature deaths, emphasizing the need for dietary guideline changes.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) dominate global food supplies.
- High UPF consumption is consistently associated with increased noncommunicable disease risk and all-cause mortality.
- Understanding the global burden of UPF consumption is critical for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the risk of all-cause mortality associated with ultraprocessed food consumption.
- To estimate the epidemiologic burden of ultraprocessed food consumption in eight diverse countries.
Main Methods:
- A dose-response meta-analysis of observational cohort studies assessed UPF intake and all-cause mortality.
- Pooled relative risk (RR) was calculated per 10% increment in UPF consumption.
- Population attributable fractions for premature mortality were estimated in eight countries representing varying UPF consumption levels.
Main Results:
- A linear dose-response relationship was observed: a 10% increase in UPF consumption correlated with a 3% rise in all-cause mortality (RR=1.03; 95% CI=1.02, 1.04).
- Ultraprocessed food intake was estimated to be responsible for 4% to 14% of premature deaths across the studied countries.
- The highest attributable burden was observed in the United Kingdom and the U.S.
Conclusions:
- Ultraprocessed food intake significantly contributes to the global disease burden.
- Reducing ultraprocessed food consumption should be integrated into national dietary guidelines.
- Public policy interventions are necessary to address the health impacts of ultraprocessed foods.
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