Ultraprocessed food consumption and childhood obesity Original paper

In this randomized controlled trial in children with obesity, personalized food plans and education related to ultraprocessed foods led to reductions in BMI.

The effect of educational programs related to ultraprocessed foods (UPF)*, alone or in combination with energy restriction, on BMI among children with obesity.

101 children in Brazil (average age of 9; 58 boys and 43 girls) with obesity.

In this 6-month randomized controlled trial, all child participants and their parents attended education programs based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population principles, which emphasizes the reduction of UPFs. The educational programs were conducted monthly and lasted approximately 30 minutes.

In addition, the families received individualized consultations. In the control group, these consultations reinforced the information provided in the education programs. In the intervention group, the children and parents were provided with personalized diet plans, targeting a moderate energy restriction (−180 kcal/day). To assess UPF consumption, the participants completed a 24-hour dietary recall monthly.

At 6 months, BMI was reduced in the intervention group, both in comparison with baseline (−0.27) and in comparison with the control group, whose BMI increased from baseline (+0.53).

UPF consumption did not differ significantly between groups.

Approximately 69% of the participants completed at least 4 assessments, but less than half of the participants completed the full 6-month intervention, which may limit the strength of these findings. The most common reason for withdrawal was the amount of time required.

In addition to the intervention and control groups, the authors of this study used mathematical projections to estimate what the children’s weight would have been if they had not received any type of intervention. The authors reported that the rate of weight gain was reduced in both groups (intervention and control) in comparison with the projections.

*UPFs are generally produced through industrial processes and include ingredients or additives that are rarely used in home cooking. Examples of UPFs include sugary drinks, instant noodles, frozen meals, and candy bars.