Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Obesity Development in Canadian Children
Authors' conclusion
In this cohort study of Canadian children, high UPF consumption during early childhood was associated with obesity development, primarily in males. These findings can inform targeted public health initiatives for early childhood centers and caregiver education programs to reduce UPF intake and prevent obesity.
Study context
- Population
- Canadian children in the CHILD Cohort Study; diet assessed at 3 years (food frequency questionnaire, NOVA classification), anthropometry at 5 years53.0% males
- Participants
- 2,217 children
- Exposure
- Higher vs lower ultraprocessed foods (UPF) intake at 3 years of age
- Outcome
- Age- and sex-standardized z scores for BMI, waist to height ratio, subscapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses, and obesity (BMI z score cutoffs)
- Follow-up
- 5 years of age
Methodological detailsmulticenter, population-based, pregnancy cohort
- Multicenter
- Population-based
- Pregnancy cohort
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Body mass index (BMI) z score, males
- β 0.08 (0.03-0.14) (95% CI)
- Waist to height ratio z score, males
- β 0.07 (0.01-0.12) (95% CI)
- Subscapular skinfold z score, males
- β 0.12 (0.06-0.18) (95% CI)
- Triceps skinfold z score, males
- β 0.09 (0.03-0.15) (95% CI)
- Overweight or obesity, males
- OR 1.19 (1.03-1.36) (95% CI)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
UPF share of total daily energy intake · 3 years of age
P < 0.001
- UPF share of total daily energy intake — UPF share of total daily energy intake, all
- 45.0%
Original publication
Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Obesity Development in Canadian Children. JAMA Netw Open. Published 2 January 2025. doi:10.
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