According to a study published in the Revista de Saúde Pública of the University of São Paulo (USP), the consumption of ultra-processed foods increased in Brazil by 5.5% in the last decade. The study also shows that 20% of the calories consumed by Brazilians come from these foods.
Ultra-processed foods: consumption increases among Brazilians
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The consumption of ultra-processed foods has increased by more than 5% in the last decade, says a study by the Research Center Epidemiological Studies in Nutrition and Health (Nupens/USP), published in the Journal of Public Health of the University of São Paulo (USP).
“The increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods between 2008 and 2017, although not very large, was significant. This increase corroborates other studies that evaluated purchases by Brazilian families since the 1980s, showing that the increase comes from happening for decades”, said the vice-coordinator of the center, which, by the way, is responsible for the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population.
The research used as a basis both sociodemographic factors and the temporal evolution of this consumption between the years 2008 and 2018.
What are ultra-processed foods?
Ultra-processed foods are nothing more than those that undergo high levels of industrial processing; therefore, they have a high level of concentration of sugar, fat, preservatives and substances synthesized in laboratories.
These foods hardly have whole foods in their composition, thus being nutrient-deficient and calorie-rich foods. Examples are soft drinks, ramen noodles, cookies, sausages.
Who are the people who consume these foods the most?
Usually, the profile that most consumes this type of food is white women, middle-class teenagers with a high level of education. The regions where consumption is higher are the South and Southeast regions.
However, the curious factor is that, in the last decade, there was an increase in consumption precisely among the population that was outside this profile. Black and indigenous people from the rural area or regions of the North and Northeast. For experts, this is explained by the fact that more and more companies of these foods are spreading across the territory.
Risks of this increase
Excess consumption of ultra-processed foods is a major health risk. “Consistent research has shown the association between the high consumption of these foods and the risk of obesity and various non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal. In addition, recent publications show that they are related to unprecedented environmental damage, contributing to a large part of the greenhouse gas emissions and causing deforestation, soil degradation and massive loss of biodiversity”, explains Maria Laura.