Ultraprocessed Food Intake Accounts for More Than Half of Kids’ Energy Intake
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2024 -- Ultraprocessed food (UPF) intake accounts for nearly half of toddlers’ energy and increases in mid-childhood, according to a study published online Oct. 4 in the European Journal of Nutrition.
Rana E. Conway, Ph.D., from University College London, and colleagues used data from children in the U.K. Gemini twin cohort at 21 months (2,591 children) and 7 years (592 children) to characterize trends in UPF intakes in toddlerhood and mid-childhood.
The researchers found that the contribution of UPF to total energy was 46.9 percent at 21 months and 59.4 percent at 7 years. In toddlerhood, principal UPF subgroups included yogurts, higher-fiber breakfast cereals, and wholegrain breads but switched to puddings, sweet cereal products, and white breads in mid-childhood. Mean free sugar and sodium intakes exceeded recommended maximums at both ages. There was a negative association between UPF intake and fat, saturated fat, and protein intake in toddlerhood and fiber intake in mid-childhood (P < 0.001). Being in the highest UPF intake quintile in toddlerhood predicted being in the highest quintile in mid-childhood (odds ratio, 9.40).
“Effective policies are needed to reduce UPF intakes in the early years,” the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted October 2024
Read this next
Synthetic Dyes Present in 19 Percent of U.S. Food Products
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- Synthetic dyes are present in 19 percent of U.S. food products and are more common in the top five categories marketed to children, according to a study...
2011 to 2023 Saw Increase in Prevalence of Obesity Among Children
WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2025 -- The prevalence of obesity increased among children and adolescents from 2011 to 2023, with the increase most pronounced among Black youths, according to...
Obesity Linked to Financial Hardship, Food Insecurity
WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2025 -- Obesity is associated with financial hardship and food insecurity, according to a research letter published online June 24 in the Annals of Internal...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.