Relationship Between Ultraprocessed Food Intake and Cardiovascular Health Among U.S. Adolescents: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2018

Abstract

PurposeStudies of the association between ultraprocessed foods (UPF) and cardiovascular disease risk factors have been mainly focused on the adult population. This study examined the association between usual percentage of calories (%kcal) from UPF and the American Heart Association's seven cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics among U.S. adolescents aged 12–19 years. MethodsWe used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2018 (n = 5,565). The NOVA food system was used to classify UPF according to the extent and purpose of food processing. Each CVH metric was given a score of 0, 1, or 2 (poor, intermediate, or ideal health, respectively). Scores of six metrics were summed (excluding diet) to categorize CVH as low (0–7), moderate (8–10), or high (11–12). The National Cancer Institute's methods were used to estimate usual %kcal from UPF. Multivariable linear regression and multinomial logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between UPF and CVH. ResultsAmong youth, 12.1% had low CVH, 56.3% moderate, and 31.6% high. The mean usual %kcal from UPF was 65.7%. Every 5% increase in calories from UPF was associated with .13 points lower CVH scores (p < .001). Comparing Q2, Q3, and Q4 to Q1 of UPF intake, the adjusted odds ratios for low versus high CVH were 1.43 (95% confidence interval 1.16–1.76), 1.86 (1.29–2.66), and 2.59 (1.49–4.55), respectively. The pattern of association was largely consistent across subgroups. ConclusionsU.S. adolescents consume about two thirds of daily calorie from UPF. There was a graded inverse association between %kcal from UPF and CVH score.