Ultra-processed foods are 'pushing aside' all other food groups to dominate global diets

[erronis]

https://www.worldobesity.org/news/ultra-processed-foods-are-pushing-aside-all-other-food-groups-to-dominate-global-diets
Ultra-processed foods are ‘pushing aside’ all other food groups to dominate global diets and should be regulated with tobacco-style warnings and advertising bans.

Professor Monteiro discussed how UPFs are displacing healthier, less processed foods all over the world, and also causing a deterioration in diet quality due to their several harmful attributes. Together, these foods are driving the pandemic of obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes.

UPFs now provide near or more than half of the calories in diets in developed countries such as Canada (47%) the USA (60%) and the UK (57%), with lower but increasing proportions in middle-income countries such as Brazil (20%).

Explaining the possible reasons behind the wide variations in % dietary calories from UPF among countries, Prof. Monteiro says: “The high levels of close to half or more of total calories coming from ultra-processed foods are seen only in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. One explanation is the lower resilience of traditional dietary patterns in these countries and the fact that the UPF industry was born mostly in the US and then moved to other Anglo-saxon countries. Levels in Brazil are similar to levels in Colombia and lower than in Chile and Mexico, around 35%. But increases are being seen in all these countries. European countries, with strong food cultures, also have levels lower than in the US.”

In terms of disease risk, UPF diets have been shown to be associated with at least 25 chronic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemias, hyperuricemia, heart attack, cerebrovascular disease, Crohn’s disease, peptic ulcer, chronic kidney disease, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, colorectal adenoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, oesophagus adenocarcinoma, head and neck cancer, ‘frailty’, depression, anxiety, and dementia. And overall, direct associations were found between exposure to UPFs and 32 health parameters spanning mortality, cancer, and mental, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and metabolic health outcomes.

Prof. Monteiro concluded by looking at the similarities between the UPF and tobacco industries. “Both tobacco and UPFs cause numerous serious illnesses and premature mortality; both are produced by transnational corporations that invest the enormous profits they obtain with their attractive/addictive products in aggressive marketing strategies, and in lobbying against regulation; and both are pathogenic (dangerous) by design, so reformulation is not a solution.”

[bucolic_frolic]

1. They strip the damn ingredients out of food

and then try to make it look and taste like real food.

Every time it's vivisected, there's a by-product they can sell for more money. Bran, wheat germ oil. These used to be Graham flour. Can hardly find any.

[BadgerKid]

2. I'd expect some connection to on-the-go lifestyles.

No time to cook? Order take-out or grab prepackaged bites.

[young_at_heart]

3. MONEY!

It seems that all countries prefer money and profits over good, healthy food for its' citizens. Sad state of affairs!

[slightlv]

4. Since I retired, I'm cooking from scratch more than I ever

did before. we keep apples and oranges and grapes for snacking on and on the whole, I think we're eating healthier. It's a little harder to eat with our teeth these days, but I love going to the farmer's market and getting what's needed for the crisper. I just have to be careful, to many oranges or tomatoes and my tongue breaks out in bumps, and I can easily spend most of my food allowance there. And still need to go to the store to pick up some pantry staples.

We do use whole milk (lactose free), and real butter. I weight 85 pounds (as of this morning), and have had a weight problem in the *other* direction all my life. I went on a fat-free diet back when it was popular in the 80's, and then other information came out showing how trying to live fat free made you crave fats. So, we use full fat products and good oils like virgin olive oil.

But there are nights when my fibro or lupus just isn't going to let me stand at the stove, let alone cook a meal. I daresay, those few nights a month are covered with TV dinners like Healthy Choice and Marie Calendar. Somedays, just getting out of bed uses all the energy you can muster. But I LOVE to cook, and I love to try new recipes. It's a way I've found to be creative in my old age.

[erronis]

5. I am in admiration of you. I need more fresh farmer's market good

and less of the produce, etc. that is packaged to ship long distances and be 'presentable' in the large grocery chains.

I also have recently (living out of small rented rooms) been eating some of the same frozen foods.

A good friend of mine is around 65 pounds and can't add any weight no matter what she eats. It is a big worry.

[slightlv]

6. I'd been trying to eat bigger meals since my grandson

moved in with us... but it looked this morning like I still lost 5 more pounds. I'm gonna hear about it next month from my doctor! I swear, I spent the best years of my life fighting obesity... I finally have a shape that will let me wear small sizes right off the rack, and gravity shifted everything down! ARGH!!! Good luck to your friend... tell her I empathize!