Ultra-processed food consumption and adult obesity risk: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate observational studies assessing the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and the risk of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity in the general population. We searched the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and ISI Web of Science from inception until December 2020. Data were extracted from 12 studies (nine cross-sectional and three cohort studies). Odds ratio (OR) were pooled using a random-effects model. UPF consumption was associated with an increased risk of obesity (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.36, 1.77; I-2 = 55%), overweight (OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.63; I-2 = 73%), and abdominal obesity (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.68; I-2 = 62%). Furthermore, every 10% increase of UPF consumption in daily calorie intake was associated with a 7%, a 6%, and a 5% higher risk of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, respectively. Dose-response meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies showed a positive linear association between UPF consumption and abdominal obesity. There was also a positive linear association between UPF consumption and risk of overweight/obesity in the analysis of cross-sectional studies and a positive monotonic association in the analysis of cohort studies. Our study suggests that UPF consumption is associated with an increased risk of excess weight or abdominal obesity.

Automated summary

This study indicates that consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF) is associated with an increased risk of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, with every 10% increase in UPF consumption leading to a 7%, 6%, and 5% higher risk of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, respectively. The findings suggest a positive linear association between UPF consumption and abdominal obesity, as well as a positive linear association with the risk of overweight/obesity in cross-sectional studies and a positive monotonic association in cohort studies.