Association Between Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Adiposity Measures in Lactating Women

This study aimed to evaluate the association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and the anthropometric profile of lactating women in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability. In this cross-sectional study, we collected socioeconomic and health data, food consumption information, and anthropometric measurements of lactating women between 30 and 150 days postpartum. Food consumption was evaluated using a 24-h dietary recall adapted to UPF through the Nova classification, and the anthropometric profile was assessed according to postpartum weight retention (kilograms (kg)), current body mass index (BMI) (kg/m²), and measurements of body perimeters (centimeters (cm)) and skinfolds (millimeters (mm)). Participants were grouped according to the proportion of dietary energy derived from UPF (tertile 1-2 vs. tertile 3). Adjusted linear regression models were employed to analyze associations. The study population consisted of 124 lactating women, most of had low income (102 (82.3%)) and lowest level of education (113 (91.1%)), and the average proportion of dietary energy from ultra-processed foods (UPF) was 25% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0%-76%). We found a positive association between the proportion of dietary energy from UPF and postpartum weight retention (β = 3.75, 95% CI 1.40-6.10, p < 0.002). Our findings suggest that a greater proportion of UPF in the diet of lactating women is related to postpartum weight retention, which reinforces the need for actions aimed at reducing UPF consumption during lactation. Our results require confirmation from future, more rigorous studies.