Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Julie M. Hess, Madeline E. Comeau, Shanon Casperson, Joanne L. Slavin, Guy H. Johnson, Mark Messina, Susan Raatz, Angela J. Scheett, Anne Bodensteiner, Daniel G. Palmer
Summary: The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of creating a menu that aligns with recommendations for a healthy dietary pattern, while including 80% of calories from ultra-processed foods as defined by the NOVA system. The results showed that although this menu did not achieve a perfect score, it still provided adequate nutrition and received a high diet quality score.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Daniela Martini, Justyna Godos, Marialaura Bonaccio, Paola Vitaglione, Giuseppe Grosso
Summary: The study reveals that excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods negatively affects the nutritional quality of diets, leading to an increase in free sugars, total fats, and saturated fats intake, while decreasing fiber, protein, and various vitamins and minerals intake.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Juliana Sarmiento-Santos, Melissa B. N. Souza, Lydia S. Araujo, Juliana M. Pion, Rosemary A. Carvalho, Fernanda M. Vanin
Summary: This study explored the understanding of the term ultra-processed food (UPF) among Brazilian consumers, and found that the term is still confusing for most Brazilians. This indicates the risks of using classification systems and the urgent need to improve consumer understanding.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Carlos A. Monteiro, Arne Astrup
Summary: The recommendation to choose unprocessed or minimally processed foods and freshly made meals over ultra-processed foods is gaining traction in official dietary guidelines. This recommendation is backed by research showing that a higher intake of ultra-processed foods is linked to poor-quality diets and increased risks of chronic diseases.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Zeinab Houshialsadat, Gustavo Cediel, Isabela Sattamini, Gyorgy Scrinis, Priscila Machado
Summary: This study aimed to assess the association between ultra-processed foods consumption and dietary diversity and micronutrient intake. The study found a negative association between the energy contribution of ultra-processed foods and dietary diversity, and the micronutrient content was lower in the ultra-processed food diet fraction compared to the non-ultra-processed food diet fraction.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Thayane C. Lemos, Guilherme M. S. Coutinho, Laiz A. A. Silva, Jasmin B. Stariolo, Rafaela R. Campagnoli, Leticia Oliveira, Mirtes G. Pereira, Bruna E. F. Mota, Gabriela G. L. Souza, Daniela S. Canella, Neha Khandpur, Isabel A. David
Summary: The study found that visual cues of ultra-processed foods trigger higher emotional responses and approach motivation compared to unprocessed/minimally processed foods, influencing individuals' intention to consume ultra-processed foods.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
A. Asirup, C. A. Monteiro
Summary: The Nova classification of UPFs is based on poorly defined processes and presence of additives, leading to misclassification. High palatability of UPFs is said to promote overconsumption and obesity, but evidence supporting this beyond nutrient composition is lacking. Observational studies link UPF intake with obesity, but no independent associations have been found after accounting for confounders. A highly cited feeding study showed that reduced energy intake from UPFs can be explained by other dietary factors. Considering existing nutrient profiling systems already capture key determinants of chronic disease risk, the Nova classification adds little value.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Nutrition & Dietetics
Arne Astrup, Carlos A. Monteiro
Summary: The participants in this debate hold different views on the significance of ultra-processed food (UPF). The YES position argues that there is sufficient evidence linking UPF intake to various diseases, while the NO position contends that the concept is poorly defined and the observed associations with obesity may be confounded.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Mariana Zogbi Jardim, Bruna Vieira de Lima Costa, Milene Cristine Pessoa, Camila Kummel Duarte
Summary: This study found that high consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPFD) is closely associated with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, while consumption of natural foods and minimally processed foods may have a protective effect. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the intake of UPFD in order to improve dietary quality and reduce the incidence of NCDs.
NUTRITION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Luisma Sanchez-Siles, Sergio Roman, Vincenzo Fogliano, Michael Siegrist
Summary: The degree of food processing, healthiness, and naturalness are different aspects of food. The study found that not all snack bars categorized as UPFs were necessarily unhealthy and unnatural. Significant differences were observed in terms of Nutri-score and FNI values, suggesting that overall ratings for a product category may not be appropriate. This research helps clarify the role of UPFs in the food system.
TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Luisa Schertel Cassiano, Marco A. Peres, Janaina V. S. Motta, Flavio F. Demarco, Bernardo L. Horta, Cecilia C. Ribeiro, Gustavo G. Nascimento
Summary: This study investigated the association between periodontitis and food consumption among a population in Southern Brazil. The results suggest that "initial" periodontitis is associated with a higher consumption of in natura food, while "moderate/severe" periodontitis is associated with a higher consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Filippa Juul, Georgeta Vaidean, Niyati Parekh
Summary: Ultra-processed foods may impact cardiometabolic health through various mechanisms, involving factors such as nutritional composition, food additives, and physical structure. Processed foods may affect cardiometabolic health through influencing absorption kinetics, satiety, glycemic response, and gut microbiota composition. Further research is needed to clarify the harm associated with the nutritional composition, food additives, physical structure, and other attributes of ultra-processed foods.
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Thays Nascimento Souza, Giovanna Calixto Andrade, Fernanda Rauber, Renata Bertazzi Levy, Maria Laura da Costa Louzada
Summary: This study assessed the association between eating locations and ultra-processed foods consumption in the UK, finding that consuming at home was inversely associated with ultra-processed foods consumption for children and adolescents, while eating in leisure and sports places was positively associated. Additionally, fast food consumption was directly associated with ultra-processed foods consumption for adolescents.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Mirko Marino, Federica Puppo, Cristian Del Bo', Valentina Vinelli, Patrizia Riso, Marisa Porrini, Daniela Martini
Summary: The debate surrounding the NOVA classification as a tool for categorizing foods based on processing degree remains ongoing. Research reveals large variations in ultra-processed food consumption levels across different countries and demographics, with the United States and United Kingdom showing higher levels compared to Italy. Men, young people, and overweight individuals tend to have higher consumption levels of ultra-processed foods.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Helida Ventura Barbosa Goncalves, Leticia Spricido Batista, Ana Laura Benevenuto de Amorim, Daniel Henrique Bandoni
Summary: This study evaluated the consumption of ultra-processed foods by 159,245 Brazilian adolescents and found a significant consumption among them, with almost half of the participants reporting consumption the day before. The study also found that sociodemographic characteristics such as school type, race/skin color, region, municipality type, age, living with mother, living with father, and maternal education level were associated with greater or lesser consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Letter
Rheumatology
Martin Sebastian Winkler, Peter Korsten, Claudia Binder, Bjoern Tampe
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Yi Liao, Senmao Li, Hao Chen, Chunyu Chen, Jintuan Huang, Feng Lin, Jianping Wang, Zuli Yang
Summary: A risk prediction system combining FIT and risk factors was developed to improve the sensitivity of colonoscopy screening. The system effectively stratified participants into high risk and low risk groups, with better predictive ability for colorectal neoplasia compared to using FIT alone.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER PREVENTION
(2023)
Article
Sociology
Luana Lara Rocha, Ariene Silva do Carmo, Mariana Zogbi Jardim, Bruna Albuquerque Leme, Leticia de Oliveira Cardoso, Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa, Amanda Cristina de Souza Andrade, Luana Caroline dos Santos, Larissa Loures Mendes
Summary: This study aimed to describe the community food environment of a Brazilian metropolis, finding that unhealthy establishments are the most available in the food environment. Lower income areas have a lower availability of healthy establishments, and as income increases, there is an increase in the availability of mixed and unhealthy establishments. Understanding the food environment of cities is important for decision makers.
FOOD CULTURE & SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lais Vargas Botelho, Jade Veloso Freitas, Alex Oliveira da Camara, Iasmim Ferreira de Almeida, Thauanne de Souza Goncalves, Paula Martins Horta, Daniela Silva Canella, Leticia de Oliveira Cardoso
Summary: This study examines the promotion of food and beverage and marketing strategies used by online food delivery services in Brazil during the pandemic. The results show a decrease in the emphasis on food items and a decrease in the proportion of ultra-processed foods in posts. The most common marketing strategy used was branding elements, but during the pandemic, there was an increase in the use of videos and corporate social responsibility marketing.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
Maira Macario de Assis, Milene Cristine Pessoa, Lucia Helena Almeida Grata, Ariene Silva do Carmo, Mariana Zogbi Jardim, Cristiane de Freitas Cunha, Tatiana Resende Prado Rangel de Oliveira, Luana Lara Rocha, Uriel Moreira Silva, Larissa Loures Mendes
Summary: Public policies that regulate the promotion or sale of unhealthy food and beverages in schools are relevant to prevent obesity in children and adolescents. This study aims to evaluate the association between laws that restrict the sale of food and beverages in school cafeterias and obesity in Brazilian adolescents. The findings suggest that laws restricting the sale of food and beverages in school cafeterias are associated with a decrease in the chance of obesity in adolescents in Brazilian state capitals.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Thales Philipe Rodrigues da Silva, Thamara Gabriela Fernandes Viana, Camila Kuemmel Duarte, Monique Louise Cassimiro Inacio, Gustavo Velasquez-Melendez, Milene Cristine Pessoa, Larissa Loures Mendes, Fernanda Penido Matozinhos
Summary: This study systematically examined the scientific evidence linking environmental factors (environment, social environment, environmental planning, and spatial population distribution) to excessive gestational weight gain. A meta-analysis and systematic review were conducted following recommended guidelines. The findings revealed a correlation between residing in high-poverty neighborhoods and inadequate gestational weight gain. Pregnant women living in urban areas were also found to have a higher prevalence of excessive gestational weight gain. These results suggest the importance of considering environmental factors in preventing inadequate gestational weight gain.
CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Danielle Soares Gardone, Juliana Farias Novaes, Fernanda Martins de Albuquerque, Mariana De Santis Filgueiras, Taiane Goncalves Novaes, Larissa Loures Mendes, Milene Cristine Pessoa
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between community food environments and childhood obesity in a medium-sized Brazilian city. The results showed a positive association between the presence of unhealthy food stores and obesity, and a negative association between the presence of healthy food stores and obesity.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Juliana de Paula Matos, Karen Carolina Martins Juliao, Paula Martins Horta
Summary: This study aims to characterize food establishments registered with meal delivery apps in nine Latin American cities. The establishments were categorized by keyword groups, and the marketing strategies used in their advertisements were identified. Mexico City had the highest number of registered establishments, and photos were the most common marketing strategy used.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Larissa Loures Mendes, Luana Lara Rocha, Lais Vargas Botelho, Mariana Carvalho de Menezes, Paulo Cesar Pereira de Castro, Alex Oliveira da Camara, Leticia de Olivera Cardoso, Ines Rugani Ribeiro de Castro, Paula Martins Horta, Milene Cristine Pessoa, Marcela Boro Veiros, Daniela Silva Canella
Summary: This scoping review mapped the scientific research on food environments in Brazil. It found that there has been an increase in research on Brazilian food environments. The most frequently used methods were analytical quantitative approaches and cross-sectional designs. Most articles were published in English and focused on capital cities in the Southeast region, with the adult population as the study sample. The studies mainly evaluated the community food environment, specifically the physical dimension, and the outcome was usually food consumption. Additionally, most articles did not explicitly adopt a conceptual model.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Mariana Migliavacca Madalosso, Nina Nayara Ferreira Martins, Brenda Massochin Medeiros, Luana Lara Rocha, Larissa Loures Mendes, Beatriz D. Schaan, Felipe Vogt Cureau
Summary: This study evaluated the association between consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and cardiometabolic risk factors in Brazilian adolescents. The findings showed that high UPF consumption was associated with high LDL-c and low HDL-c levels, but not with other cardiometabolic risk factors.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Juliana de Paula Matos, Mariana Gondo, Ludmylla Souza Elias Mota, Paula Martins Horta
Summary: Scientific evidence suggests that self-regulation models are ineffective in protecting children and adolescents from commercial exploitation. This study analyzes the complaints regarding food advertising targeting children and adolescents sent to the Brazilian entity CONAR between 2010 and 2020. The findings show a predominance of complaints about ultra-processed foods, a fluctuation in the number of complaints over the years, and a lack of consistency in CONAR's decision patterns on advertisements.
CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ariene Silva do Carmo, Larissa Loures Mendes, Leticia de Oliveira Cardoso, Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa, Luana Caroline dos Santos
Summary: This study aims to analyze the isolated and combined effects of objective measures concerning neighborhood safety, food, and physical activity environments on students' obesity. The study found that social conditions change the effect of the environment on childhood obesity, emphasizing the relevance of inter-sectoral policies and strategies against this condition.
CADERNOS DE SAUDE PUBLICA
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Michele Bittencourt Rodrigues, Victoria Pedrazzoli Ferreira, Rafael Moreira Claro, Ana Paula Bortoletto Martins, Sandra Avila, Paula Martins Horta
Summary: This study aimed to develop a machine learning-based method to automatically identify and classify food and non-food ad videos. The EfficientNet neural network associated with the balanced batches strategy achieved an overall accuracy of 90.5% on the test database, significantly reducing the time spent on identifying and classifying ads. This method has promising practical implications for monitoring food marketing.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mariana Zogbi Jardim, Larissa Loures Mendes, Nayhanne Gomes Cordeiro, Rafael Moreira Claro, Milene Cristine Pessoa, Amanda Cristina de Souza Andrade, Bruna Vieira de Lima Costa
Summary: This article assesses the community food environment in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, comparing areas with and without Food and Nutrition Public Establishments (FNPE). The study finds a random distribution pattern of commercial establishments, with convenience stores and bakeries being the most common type.
CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA
(2023)
