Ultra-processed food consumption and overweight in children, adolescents and young adults: Long-term data from the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS)

Objective: The aim was to assess ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption, its impact on overweight and its association with weight trends from childhood and adolescence to young adulthood.

Methods: Long-term UPF consumption (13.3 years) by NOVA was analysed (children/adolescents and adults, n = 182) in the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS, n = 10 750).

Results: In children/adolescents (13.1 ± 1.9 years), a UPF-based dietary pattern showed an inverse association with BMI-SDS and fat mass index (males: r = -0.301, p = 0.01; r = -0.376, p = 0.001; females: r = -0.315, p < 0.001; r = -0.282, p = 0.003). Longitudinal analysis indicated that UPF consumption in childhood and adolescence was correlated with UPF consumption in adulthood among females (r = 0.272; p = 0.004) but not among males. In young adults (26.7 ± 2.2 years), UPF consumption accounted for nearly 50% of daily energy intake and was higher with overweight compared to normal weight and in incident overweight compared to persistent normal weight (both p < 0.05). High UPF consumption was associated with markers of poor diet quality (lower intake of fibre, higher intake of salt and energy-dense food, all p < 0.05).

Conclusions: High UPF consumption in young adults was associated with both prevalence and incidence of overweight from childhood and adolescence to adulthood.