In today's fast-paced world, many families are turning to highly processed foods (UPFs) to save time and effort. But a new study brings to light worrying findings that should make parents and caregivers rethink their eating habits. What is particularly alarming is that these negative effects have been found in young children as young as 3 to 6 years old.

What are highly processed foods (UPFs)?

Highly processed foods are industrially manufactured products that contain many ingredients, additives and preservatives. These foods are often very tasty and convenient to consume, but they are also high in unhealthy fats, sugar and salt. Examples of UPFs are soft drinks, packaged snacks, ready meals and sweets.

The study at a glance

A recent study of 1426 children aged 3 to 6 years, conducted as part of the Childhood Obesity Risk Assessment Longitudinal Study (CORALS), investigated the association between UPF consumption and various health parameters. The results are alarming:

• Higher body weight and fat percentage: children who consume a lot of UPFs have a higher body mass index (BMI) and a larger waist circumference. This means that they tend to weigh more and have a higher body fat percentage.
• Elevated blood sugar levels: These children also have higher fasting blood sugar levels, which is an indication of an increased risk of developing diabetes.
• Lower HDL cholesterol levels: consumption of UPFs is associated with lower levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. Lower HDL levels are bad for heart health.

Worrying findings in young children

The remarkable and worrying finding of this study is that the negative effects of highly processed foods are already clearly visible in very young children, aged just 3 to 6 years. This shows that early childhood can set the stage for health problems later in life.

What do these results mean?

The study shows that a high intake of UPFs is associated with negative effects on children's health. Children who eat a lot of highly processed foods have a higher risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

These findings emphasize the need to improve our children's diets. It is important to reduce the consumption of highly processed foods and instead focus on natural, unprocessed or minimally processed foods. This includes fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and natural dairy products.

Tips for a healthy diet for young children

1. More fresh foods: Encourage your children to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. These are rich in nutrients and support healthy development.
2. Give preference to whole grain products: Choose whole grain bread, rice and pasta instead of refined grain products. These contain more fiber and nutrients.
3. Healthy snacks: Instead of reaching for packaged snacks, offer healthy alternatives such as nuts, yogurt or vegetable sticks.
4. Less sugar: Reduce your consumption of sugary drinks and sweets. Water and unsweetened teas are the best thirst quenchers.
5. Cook together: Involve your children in the preparation of meals. This is not only fun, but also promotes an awareness of healthy eating.

Conclusion

The new study clearly shows that the consumption of highly processed foods is putting our children's health at risk, even at the very young age of 3 to 6 years. It is time for us as parents and caregivers to take action and offer our children a healthy and balanced diet. By making small changes to our eating habits, we can promote the long-term health and well-being of our children.

Make sure to reduce the consumption of highly processed foods and focus on fresh, natural foods. This way we can ensure that our children grow up healthy and lay a strong foundation for their future health.

Source:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2818951