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Health risks of ultra-processed food consumption

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2026-10-06 16:45 UTC → 2026-10-10 08:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Health experts and scientific research have highlighted the significant risks associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Cardiologist José Abellán warned that these foods contribute to a global obesity crisis, noting that obesity cases have increased sevenfold over the last 40 years. He linked dietary patterns high in fats, sugars, and processed ingredients to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. An extensive analysis published in Family Medicine and Community Health synthesized data from 51 studies involving approximately 8.8 million adults, identifying a proportional relationship between UPF intake and various health complications. Specifically, for every additional 100 grams of UPFs consumed daily, researchers found a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular problems, a 4% higher risk of cancer, a 31% rise in digestive diseases, a 27% increase in depression or anxiety, and a 23% increase in obesity. Recent data also links this intake to an 11% increase in high blood pressure. Research in JAMA Psychiatry and The Lancet has expanded these findings to mental and cognitive health. A pilot study led by Dr. Njaša Čagvedera from the University of California, San Francisco ~~(UCSF), involving 20 adults with depression and metabolic issues,~~ (UCSF) found that participants experienced a reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms after decreasing UPF intake by more than 85 percent. Dr. Čagvedera noted that these foods may damage the gut in ways that subsequently affect the brain, potentially through phenomena like “gut leakage.” New research from Virginia Tech and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, published in Nature Metabolism, further clarified the biological impact. A study of 57 healthy young adults found that ultra-processed meals trigger a more intense and prolonged insulin response and reduce the body’s ability to use carbohydrates as fuel compared to minimally processed meals, even when calories and macronutrients are identical.

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