Ultra-processed foods may be linked to behavioural issues in kids: study

The study found that higher ultra-processed food intake at age three years was associated with adverse behavioural and emotional symptoms at age five years.

A new study says there appears to be a link between consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in preschool years and behavioural issues in childhood.

Nearly 3,500 families contributed to the cohort, which followed the children from before birth to adolescence in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto. The researchers then assessed the children’s emotional and behavioural well-being two years later, when they were five.

It was found that “higher UPF intake at age three years was associated with adverse behavioural and emotional symptoms at age five years.”

In addition, for every 10 per cent rise in calories coming from ultra-processed foods, five-year-olds had higher instances of “internalizing” behaviours (44.6 per cent), such as anxiety and fearfulness, and “externalizing” behaviours (39.6 per cent), including aggression and hyperactivity, as well as overall behavioural difficulties.

Almost half (48 per cent) of Canadian preschoolers’ daily energy intake came from ultra-processed foods, yet the researchers note that little is understood about how UPFs might influence their behavioural and emotional development.

Kozeta Miliku, the clinical science officer of the CHILD cohort study, found the results to be “really alarming.”

The study found that the main ultra-processed food subgroups contributing to energy were sweets and desserts (12.5 per cent), breads and cereals (11.9 per cent), animal-based products (7.9 per cent) and ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat mixed dishes (6.1 per cent).

The ultra-processed food subgroup for children at age found that “higher intake of artificially and sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with a higher internalizing score and total behaviour score but not externalizing.”