B4433 - Association of ultra-processed food consumption with body composition and blood pressure in Brazilian and British adolescents - 23/10/2023

B number: 
B4433
Principal applicant name: 
Carolina Abreu de Carvalho | Federal University of Maranhão (Brazil)
Co-applicants: 
Jennifer Carter (PhD)
Title of project: 
Association of ultra-processed food consumption with body composition and blood pressure in Brazilian and British adolescents
Proposal summary: 

The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) has been associated with various adverse health outcomes. However, the investigation of the effect of UPF consumption on obesity, body composition indicators, and blood pressure in adolescents, especially using longitudinal and high-quality studies, is still scarce in the literature. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of UPF consumption on body composition, obesity, and blood pressure in Brazilian and British adolescents. The comparison of data from adolescents in two countries with distinct socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, such as Brazil and England, holds unique relevance for advancing knowledge in assessing the detrimental effect of UPF consumption on health, regardless of education or income and other differences between the countries. We hypothesise that there is an association between UPF consumption and body composition, obesity, and blood pressure of adolescents in both countries. The plausibility of this hypothesis is supported by existing evidence in the literature characterizing UPFs as rich in fats, sodium, sugar, and additives, being more high in calories and unhealthy. Therefore, it is likely that the higher consumption of these foods in the long term represents a risk factor for the development of the outcomes analyzed in the present proposal, even in young individuals.

Impact of research: 
The present proposal will investigate the effect of UPF consumption on important cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, changes in body composition and normal weight obesity in Brazilian and British adolescents. We hope that the comparison of data from adolescents from two very different countries will contribute to the advancement of knowledge in verifying the harmful effect of UPF consumption on the outcomes analysed in this proposal. If we observe similar patterns of association between UPF consumption and the outcomes analysed in both countries, despite very different social patterns of intake, this helps to indicate potential causality. Investigating the effect of UPF consumption on cardiovascular risk indicators in adolescents, especially using high-quality longitudinal studies, is still scarce in the literature. Several countries have structured their actions to promote healthy eating based on the logic of the food processing level, therefore, studies that aim to analyse the effects of UPF consumption on health outcomes have the potential to strengthen and improve the evidence base that supports these public food and nutrition actions and policies. Finally, it is worth highlighting that the nutritional transition in England is at a more advanced stage than in Brazil, therefore, comparisons between the two countries can provide relevant contributions so that Brazil can try to anticipate changes that occur as the nutritional transition progresses in the country.
Date proposal received: 
Friday, 6 October, 2023
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 23 October, 2023
Keywords: 
Epidemiology, Hypertension, Obesity, Statistical methods, Blood pressure, BMI, Cohort studies - attrition, bias, participant engagement, ethics, Childhood - childcare, childhood adversity, Nutrition - breast feeding, diet