Paternal ultra-processed food consumption linked to infant birth weight

A Brazilian study published in the journal Nutrition Research suggests that a father's consumption of ultra-processed foods may be directly associated with infant birth weight and increased skinfold thickness in newborns.

The research analyzed 43 families in the public health network of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. Researchers found that, on average, 30% of the energy consumed by parents came from ultra-processed products. Common items consumed by men included sausages, bacon, sugary drinks, and biscuits.

After adjusting for various statistical factors—including the father's age, education, socioeconomic status, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and maternal weight gain during pregnancy—the study identified a direct link between the proportion of ultra-processed foods in the paternal diet and the baby's weight at birth.