More than half of Americans' daily calorie intake comes from ultra-processed foods, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

More than half of Americans' daily calorie intake comes from ultra-processed foods, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

In a significant move towards improving public health, the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has seen a notable decrease among both adults and children in the United States. According to recent data, the average percentage of calories from UPFs decreased from 55.8% to 53% for adults, and from 63.8% to 61.9% for children.

The decrease is more pronounced among children between the ages of 1 and 5, who consume fewer calories from UPFs compared to children between ages 6 and 22, pre-teens, and teenagers aged 12 to 18. Among adults, the percentage of calories consumed from UPFs decreases with age, with those aged 19 to 39 consuming the highest (54.4%), followed by adults aged 40 to 59 (52.6%) and adults aged 60 and older (51.7%).

Dr. Fang Fang Zhang, a cancer and nutrition epidemiologist, expressed interest in understanding which food subgroups are showing a decline in consumption of UPFs. Zhang agreed that reducing the consumption of UPFs in schools and workplaces could have a long-lasting impact on the overall population level health.

Experts have highlighted the importance of distinguishing within the category of UPFs to identify less harmful options. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic, stated that an intake of 10% of total calories from UPFs would be reasonable, while the current average is much higher.

Examples of UPFs include most chips, candy bars, breakfast cereals, sugar-sweetened beverages, and ready-to-eat meals. These foods are often described as "hyperpalatable," containing little to no whole foods, being low in dietary fiber, and high in salt, sweeteners, and unhealthy fats.

The current guidelines and recommendations in the US focus on reducing the consumption of UPFs to improve public health. Key recommendations include developing a standardized federal definition of UPFs, reducing overall consumption, promoting dietary patterns rich in whole or minimally processed foods, implementing policy and regulatory measures, increasing research funding and regulatory science, and targeting vulnerable populations to reduce disparities in diet-related chronic disease risk.

The White House's Make America Healthy Again Commission, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently released a report blaming UPFs as a cause of rising chronic disease rates. Ultra-processed foods have been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, according to studies.

Dr. Navjot Kaur Sobti contributed to this report. Experts emphasize that the U.S. is taking steps toward formal guidance and strategic action to limit UPF consumption as a critical means of improving population health and reducing chronic disease prevalence.

[1] FDA and USDA working on defining ultra-processed foods [2] American Heart Association guidelines on UPFs [3] Scientific advisories linking UPFs to increased cardiometabolic risk [4] Understanding the health effects of food additives and processing techniques [5] Public health efforts targeting vulnerable populations

1. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are collaborating to establish a standardized federal definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
2. The American Heart Association has issued guidelines on the consumption of UPFs, emphasizing the need to limit their intake.
3. Numerous scientific advisories have linked the consumption of UPFs to an increased risk of cardiometabolic conditions.
4. There is a growing interest in understanding the health effects of food additives and processing techniques on chronic disease development.
5. Public health efforts are focusing on targeting vulnerable populations, aiming to reduce disparities in chronic disease risk related to UPF consumption.
6. The reduction of UPF consumption is considered a key strategy in improving overall health and reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases.
7. Promoting awareness of the impact of UPFs on medical-conditions, such as chronic diseases and respiratory conditions, [8] is essential to implementing change in individual dietary habits.
8. When considering digestive-health and eye-health, maintaining a balanced diet that minimizes UPFs is crucial to long-term wellness.
9. Regular exercise and a well-rounded fitness-and-exercise routine can help mitigate the negative effects of UPFs on health.
10. For individuals with autoimmune-disorders, scientists are investigating the role of UPFs in exacerbating symptoms and affecting disease progression.
11. Adequate nutrition, including food-and-drink rich in essential vitamins and minerals, is vital for maintaining cardiovascular-health and overall well-being.
12. Managing personal-finance and wealth-management responsibly can help individuals make healthier food choices, such as avoiding UPFs, to maintain their wellness.
13. As skin-conditions can be sensitive to diet and environmental factors, reducing UPF consumption and maintaining a nutrient-rich diet can contribute to clearer skin.
14. Lifestyle modifications, such as adopting a diet rich in whole foods and minimizing UPFs, [15] can potentially lead to improved hearing, cognitive function, and mental well-being, in addition to affecting physical health.

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