Ultra-processed food intake in relation to metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity

Abstract Background Many studies have explored the association between food intake and metabolic health. However, research on the association of consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and metabolic health in children and adolescents remains unclear. The objective of our study was to investigate the...

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Main Authors: Sana Farzam, Donya Poursalehi, Saeideh Mirzaei, Ali Asadi, Masoumeh Akhlaghi, Parvane Saneei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Nutrition & Metabolism
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-024-00886-w
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author Sana Farzam
Donya Poursalehi
Saeideh Mirzaei
Ali Asadi
Masoumeh Akhlaghi
Parvane Saneei
author_facet Sana Farzam
Donya Poursalehi
Saeideh Mirzaei
Ali Asadi
Masoumeh Akhlaghi
Parvane Saneei
author_sort Sana Farzam
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Many studies have explored the association between food intake and metabolic health. However, research on the association of consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and metabolic health in children and adolescents remains unclear. The objective of our study was to investigate the relation between UPFs consumption and metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight/obesity. Methods For this cross-sectional study, we selected a sample of 203 adolescents (101 boys and 102 girls) with a mean age of 13.98 ± 1.61 who were chosen using a multistage cluster random sampling method. We collected data on their dietary patterns using a validated 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, we measured anthropometric indices, blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles. Participants were categorized to either metabolically healthy or unhealthy overweight/obesity (MHO and MUO) based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and IDF/ Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) criteria. Results Our findings revealed that every 10 g/d increase in UPFs consumption was related to an elevated odds of MUO as defined by the IDF (OR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.08–1.19) and IDF/HOMA-IR (OR = 1.14; 95%CI; 1.08–1.19) criteria, after controlling all confounders. The severity of this association varied among girls and boys and also among those with overweight and obesity according to the applied definitions. Moreover, each 10 g/d increase in daily UPFs intake was associated with increased odds of metabolic factors including hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hypertension, and high insulin resistance levels. Conclusion These findings highlighted a direct association between higher UPFs consumption and MUO status among adolescents.
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spelling doaj-art-8a3f6f1617f74d44bd2bcd61c81569602025-08-20T02:57:39ZengBMCNutrition & Metabolism1743-70752024-12-0121111010.1186/s12986-024-00886-wUltra-processed food intake in relation to metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesitySana Farzam0Donya Poursalehi1Saeideh Mirzaei2Ali Asadi3Masoumeh Akhlaghi4Parvane Saneei5Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesStudents’ Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Exercise Physiology, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of TehranDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Many studies have explored the association between food intake and metabolic health. However, research on the association of consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and metabolic health in children and adolescents remains unclear. The objective of our study was to investigate the relation between UPFs consumption and metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight/obesity. Methods For this cross-sectional study, we selected a sample of 203 adolescents (101 boys and 102 girls) with a mean age of 13.98 ± 1.61 who were chosen using a multistage cluster random sampling method. We collected data on their dietary patterns using a validated 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, we measured anthropometric indices, blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles. Participants were categorized to either metabolically healthy or unhealthy overweight/obesity (MHO and MUO) based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and IDF/ Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) criteria. Results Our findings revealed that every 10 g/d increase in UPFs consumption was related to an elevated odds of MUO as defined by the IDF (OR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.08–1.19) and IDF/HOMA-IR (OR = 1.14; 95%CI; 1.08–1.19) criteria, after controlling all confounders. The severity of this association varied among girls and boys and also among those with overweight and obesity according to the applied definitions. Moreover, each 10 g/d increase in daily UPFs intake was associated with increased odds of metabolic factors including hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hypertension, and high insulin resistance levels. Conclusion These findings highlighted a direct association between higher UPFs consumption and MUO status among adolescents.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-024-00886-wUltra-processed foodsOverweightObesityMetabolic health statusAdolescents
spellingShingle Sana Farzam
Donya Poursalehi
Saeideh Mirzaei
Ali Asadi
Masoumeh Akhlaghi
Parvane Saneei
Ultra-processed food intake in relation to metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity
Nutrition & Metabolism
Ultra-processed foods
Overweight
Obesity
Metabolic health status
Adolescents
title Ultra-processed food intake in relation to metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity
title_full Ultra-processed food intake in relation to metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity
title_fullStr Ultra-processed food intake in relation to metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity
title_full_unstemmed Ultra-processed food intake in relation to metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity
title_short Ultra-processed food intake in relation to metabolic health status in Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity
title_sort ultra processed food intake in relation to metabolic health status in iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity
topic Ultra-processed foods
Overweight
Obesity
Metabolic health status
Adolescents
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-024-00886-w
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