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