High Ultra-Processed Food Intake Linked to Chronic Disease Risk

HIGHER consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with higher risk of multiple chronic diseases, a new analysis shows.

In a review of 51 studies involving a total of nearly 9 million adult participants, researchers found that those who consumed higher levels of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) were more likely to develop conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.

The researchers also found that each additional 100 g of UPFs consumed per day was associated with a higher risk of several health problems.

Higher Consumption Linked with Higher Risk

The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has increased globally in recent years and continues to grow steadily. They now account for roughly half of adults’ calories in both the UK and US, although consumption varies considerably across Europe.

The researchers of this study set out to comprehensively investigate the impact of consuming UPFs on the risk of major chronic diseases in by combining findings from studies conducted across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Participants were followed for periods ranging from 2 to 32 years.

It was found that compared with those who ate the least UPFs, people who ate the most had a 31% higher risk of developing digestive diseases and a 27% higher risk of having depression or anxiety.

Notably, for those who ate the most UPFs the risk of cardiovascular events and metabolic syndrome or diabetes were each 24% higher, while the risk of being overweight or obese was 23% more compared to their peers who consumed the least.

The highest-intake group also had an 18% higher risk of death from any cause compared with the lowest intake group, as well as a 12% higher risk of cancer.

100g More UPF a Day Increases Risk

In a separate analysis, the researchers found that each additional 100g of UPFs consumed per day was associated with a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular events, a 4% higher risk of cancer and a 3% higher risk of death from any cause.

They also reported a 2% higher risk of metabolic syndrome or diabetes for each additional 100g per day.

The authors noted that the study examined a wide range of UPFs together and therefore it cannot tell readers whether all foods in that category carry the same risks, or which aspects of a person’s diet might account for the associations.

Findings Have Important Limits

This analysis builds upon the evidence from previous research that have linked higher UPF consumption to increased risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and early death.

Short-term trials have also found that people tend to eat more and gain more weight on UPF-heavy diets, although it remains unclear whether processing itself, the foods’ nutritional content or other factors explain the longer-term health risks.

The authors in this research caveat that the 51 studies they analysed relied on participants’ reports of what they ate and so cannot be guaranteed to be completely accurate.

Furthermore, people who consume different amounts of UPFs may also differ in income, other dietary habits or lifestyle, making it difficult to isolate the effect of the foods themselves.

Finally, because the researchers analysed observational studies, their findings cannot prove that eating more UPFs caused the higher risks, only that an association existed.

Nevertheless, they concluded that reducing UPF intake and replacing some products with minimally processed alternatives may be relevant to chronic disease prevention and should be investigated further.

Reference

Liu X et al. Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of multiple chronic diseases among 8,819,894 adults from 51 prospective cohorts: a dose-response meta-analysis. Family Medicine and Community Health. 2026;14(Suppl 5). doi:10.1136/fmch-2026-003925.