Ultra-processed food consumption is associated with increase in fat mass and decrease in lean mass in Brazilian women: A cohort study

• Published in: Frontiers in nutrition (Lausanne) Vol. 9; p. 1006018
• Main Authors: Rudakoff, Lívia Carolina Sobrinho, Magalhães, Elma Izze da Silva, Viola, Poliana Cristina de Almeida Fonseca, de Oliveira, Bianca Rodrigues, da Silva Coelho, Carla Cristine Nascimento, Bragança, Maylla Luanna Barbosa Martins, Arruda, Soraia Pinheiro Machado, Cardoso, Viviane Cunha, Bettiol, Heloisa, Barbieri, Marco Antonio, Levy, Renata Bertazzi, da Silva, Antônio Augusto Moura
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A 14.10.2022
• Subjects: body composition; body fat; diet; food consumption; Nutrition; ultra-processed foods (UPFs)
• ISSN: 2296-861X; 2296-861X
• DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1006018

Objective To investigate the association between ultra-processed food consumption at 23–25 years of age and measurements of body composition–fat mass, fat mass distribution and lean mass at 37–39 years of age in Brazilian adults. Methods 1978/1979 birth cohort study conducted with healthy adults from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 1,021 individuals participated in the fat mass analysis (measured by air displacement plethysmography) and 815 in the lean mass analysis and fat mass distribution (assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry). Food consumption was evaluated by a food frequency questionnaire. Food items were grouped according to the level of processing as per the NOVA classification. Ultra-processed food consumption was expressed as a percentage of total daily intake (g/day). Linear regression models were used to estimate the effect of ultra-processed food consumption (g/day) on body mass index, body fat percentage, fat mass index, android fat, gynoid fat, android-gynoid fat ratio, lean mass percentage, lean mass index and appendicular lean mass index. Marginal plots were produced to visualize interactions. Results The mean daily ultra-processed food consumption in grams was 35.8% (813.3 g). There was an association between ultra-processed food consumption and increase in body mass index, body fat percentage, fat mass index, android fat and gynoid fat and decrease in lean mass percentage, only in women. Conclusion A high ultra-processed food consumption is associated with a long-term increase in fat mass and a decrease in lean mass in adult women.