Canada study links ultra‑processed foods to heart disease deaths as global obesity hits record

A study presented at the International Obesity Congress 2026 and published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that ultra‑processed foods were linked to at least 25% of cardiovascular deaths in Canada. Using dietary and mortality data, researchers estimated that in 2019 the products contributed to 10,600‑17,400 deaths and up to 388,700 years of healthy life lost. A simulation suggested that halving consumption could prevent up to 8,300 deaths and roughly 185,000 disability‑adjusted life years.

The FAO’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 report warned that global adult obesity reached a record 16.2% in 2024, up from 12.1% in 2012, and could climb to 18.6% by 2030 if current trends continue. Child overweight prevalence stood at 5.5% in 2024, also above WHO targets. The report highlighted that 2.69 billion people still cannot afford a healthy diet, underscoring the widening gap between declining hunger and rising obesity.

Both findings emphasize the growing public‑health challenge posed by poor diets and the need for stronger nutrition policies worldwide.