Energy contribution of NOVA food groups and sociodemographic determinants of ultra-processed food consumption in the Mexican population

ObjectiveTo identify the energy contributions of NOVA food groups in the Mexican diet and the associations between individual sociodemographic characteristics and the energy contribution of ultra-processed foods (UPF).DesignWe classified foods and beverages reported in a 24 h recall according to the NOVA food framework into: (i) unprocessed or minimally processed foods; (ii) processed culinary ingredients; (iii) processed foods; and (iv) UPF. We estimated the energy contribution of each food group and ran a multiple linear regression to identify the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and UPF energy contribution.SettingMexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012.SubjectsIndividuals 1 years old (n 10 087).ResultsUnprocessed or minimally processed foods had the highest dietary energy contribution (540 % of energy), followed by UPF (298 %), processed culinary ingredients (102 %) and processed foods (60 %). The energy contribution of UPF was higher in: pre-school-aged children v. other age groups (38 to 125 percentage points difference (pp)); urban areas v. rural (56 pp); the Central and North regions v. the South (27 and 84 pp, respectively); medium and high socio-economic status v. low (45 pp, in both); and with higher head of household educational level v. without education (34 to 78 pp).ConclusionsIn 2012, about 30 % of energy in the Mexican diet came from UPF. Our results showed that younger ages, urbanization, living in the North region, high socio-economic status and high head of household educational level are sociodemographic factors related to higher consumption of UPF in Mexico.