Ultra-processed food consumption and eating disorder symptoms: Cross-sectional associations among Brazilian adults

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have been increasingly implicated in poor physical and mental health outcomes, but their relationship with eating disorder (ED) symptoms remains underexplored.

This study aimed to examine the association between UPF consumption and ED symptoms in a large sample of Brazilian adults.

A total of 1760 adults (mean age 29.9 ± 9.2 years; 53% men) completed online questionnaires. UPF consumption was assessed with the Nova Score, and ED symptoms were screened with the SCOFF questionnaire. The Expali™ algorithm was applied to classify ED categories. Group comparisons of UPF consumption were conducted using ANOVA and ANCOVA adjusted for age, sex, and BMI, and interaction terms between ED category and covariates were tested.

Signs and symptoms of EDs were identified in 39.2% of participants, mainly binge eating (65.7%) and bulimia (18.8%). The mean Nova score for UPF consumption was 3.15 (SD = 2.23). In the covariate-adjusted ANCOVA model, the main effect of ED category was statistically significant (p < 0.001; ω²p = 0.010). Nova scores for UPF consumption were significantly higher in participants with binge eating (M = 3.43, SD = 2.25) and other EDs (M = 3.85, SD = 2.58) compared with those without ED symptoms (M = 2.99, SD = 2.12; p < 0.05). No meaningful interactions with the model covariates were observed.

These findings suggest that higher UPF consumption may be more strongly associated with EDs symptoms characterized by loss-of-control eating, underscoring the need for longitudinal research to clarify temporal relationships and mechanisms.