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There is growing scientific evidence that eating ultra-processed foods increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Currently, approximately 40 million people in the United States have diabetes, more than 90% of whom have diabetes. type 2. Diabetes is a chronic disease in which blood sugar levels rise due to increased insulin resistance. If left untreated, this condition can cause serious damage to nerves, blood vessels, heart, brain, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, eyes, gums, and feet.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease whose symptoms typically appear suddenly in childhood. Type 2 diabetes was until recently diagnosed primarily in adults over the age of 45. But now more people are being diagnosed. children and youth Have developed type 2 diabetes. Over the next 40 years, the number of children affected by this disease will be almost 700% increase. Although genetic factors may play a role in the development of the disease, the main factors contributing to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes include obesity, waist circumference, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Today, more than half of calories are american adult eat, and almost 70% kids caloriescomes from ultra-processed foods.
Lawmakers discuss diabetes risks of ultra-processed foods
Concerns about the serious health risks associated with ultra-processed foods have been brought to Congress. In a letter to F.D.A. In February, Sen. Bernie Sanders called for stronger warning labels on ultra-processed foods, citing “skyrocketing” rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity in the United States.
Mr. Sanders also wrote an op-ed. USA Today In December 2023, the title was “We cannot allow the food and beverage industry to destroy the health of our children.” “It’s long past time to seriously combat the type 2 diabetes and obesity epidemic in America. We must have the courage to stand up to the greed of the food and beverage industry, which attacks the health and well-being of our children every day. No need.”
That same month, Ashley Gearhart, a food addiction expert and professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, said: testified before the US Senate “A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that addictive processes play an important role in contributing to patterns of ultra-processed food consumption associated with poor health, obesity and diabetes. If addictive mechanisms are being triggered, we may be overlooking why it is difficult to reduce intake of ultra-processed foods even in the face of health conditions such as diabetes.”
Read our factsheet on ultra-processed foods and addiction here.Also, ultra-processed foods and cancer, obesityand early on death.
What evidence links ultra-processed foods to diabetes?
In an observational study published in JAMA Internal Medicine In 2019, researchers set out to investigate the link between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and ultra-processed foods (UPF). The prospective analysis included data from more than 104,000 people. The researchers found that after adjusting for lifestyle, socioeconomic factors, and comorbidities, “UPF intake was associated with an increased risk of T2D.” These results remained statistically significant even after adjusting for several markers of dietary nutritional quality, other metabolic comorbidities, and weight change. Absolute UPF consumption (in grams per day) was consistently associated with T2D risk, even when adjusting for intake of unprocessed or minimally processed foods. ”
Meta-analysis published in International Journal of Epidemiology In 2022, we aimed to investigate studies linking the consumption of ultra-processed foods to the risk of type 2 diabetes. After screening more than 18 studies involving more than 1 million people in total, researchers found that “compared to no consumption, moderate consumption of ultra-processed foods increased the risk of diabetes by 12%, while They found that high intake increased the risk by 12%. 31%. They added that the increased risk had a “dose-response effect, with moderate to high confidence in the evidence.” The study authors concluded that, “In addition to alternative therapies, strategies such as replacing fresh and minimally processed foods and physical activity can help prevent diabetes, as long as they are accompanied by a reduction in intake of very high-calorie foods. It may be an effective treatment.” processed food. “
“Researching the factors that cause diabetes and conducting clinical trials have become priorities,” begins the mini-review published in the journal nutrients. The study authors noted that consuming ultra-processed foods “significantly” increases the risk of developing diabetes. Of note, one study found that “consumption of sugary drinks and salty processed foods significantly increased the risk of prediabetes by 248% and 48%, respectively, and the risk of type 2 diabetes by 219% and 600%, respectively. It has been found that.” compared to individuals who did not consume these products or had an infrequent intake rate. ”
In a longitudinal study published in 2023 in the journal Diabetology and metabolic syndromeResearchers evaluated the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and type 2 diabetes in more than 10,000 Brazilian adults. They found that after adjusting for lifestyle and risk factors, “comparing the fourth and first quartiles of the UPF distribution had a relative risk (RR) of 1.24.” For every 150 g/day increase in UPF consumption, the RR was 1.05. Reclassifying sweetened natural beverages as UPF increases the risk. Among the UPF subgroups, consumption of processed meat and sweetened beverages increased the risk of diabetes, while yogurt and dairy sweets decreased the risk. “These findings strengthen previous evidence regarding the role of UPF in the development of diabetes and other chronic diseases and support recommendations to avoid UPF intake in diabetes prevention and management,” the researchers wrote. Yes,” he concluded.
For research published in BMC Medical In 2022, Dutch researchers wanted to investigate different ultra-processed foods and their health effects. This data included the self-reported food intake of more than 70,000 of his study participants, ranging in age from 35 to his 70s. With just over three years of follow-up, “a 10% increase in UPF intake was associated with a 25% increase in his intake” at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. ” In particular, consuming large amounts of hot or cold savory snacks was associated with increased risk. Of particular note, “As quartiles of UPF consumption increase, participants were younger, had higher BMI, lower risk scores for type 2 diabetes, were less physically active, and had poorer overall diet quality.” , were more likely to consume less alcohol, smoke less, be less highly educated,” and spend more time watching TV. The researchers concluded, “In addition to promoting the consumption of healthy foods, actively refraining from eating unhealthy foods, such as flavorful UPF, should also be considered as part of diabetes prevention strategies.” ” concluded.
Meta-analyses and systematic reviews published in nutrients A study of more than 200,000 adults in four countries in 2021 found that high intake of ultra-processed foods was “significantly associated” with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It has been found. The researchers wrote: “Linear dose-response analysis showed that each 10% increase in UPF intake was associated with a 15% increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes in adults. Nonlinear dose Response analysis demonstrated a positive linear correlation between UPF intake and T2DM in adults. Nonlinear dose-response analysis demonstrated a positive linear correlation between UPF intake and T2DM in adults. It has also been proven.”
In a survey published in a magazine nutrients In 2022, researchers looked at the link between ultra-processed foods and type 2 diabetes in more than 12,000 Chinese adults with an average age of 43.3 years. The researchers found that “both UPF intake and diabetes prevalence increased among Chinese adults from 1997 to 2011.” Consumers with high UPF had a significantly higher risk of diabetes than non-consumers. The association between UPF intake and diabetes was partially mediated by overweight/obesity. ”
In a study published in nutrition journalResearchers aimed to investigate the association between ultra-processed food consumption and diabetes risk in Asian populations by evaluating data from more than 7,000 Koreans aged 40 to 69. For food intake, the highest quartile showed a positive association with diabetes risk. Further adjustment for diet quality and BMI did not change this association. ” Consumption of carbonated beverages, ham/sausage, instant noodles, and ice cream was particularly associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In response to these findings, the study authors wrote: “Public health strategies should also focus on making unprocessed or minimally processed foods more affordable and available, and support industry efforts to formulate less processed foods. Yes. Food manufacturers can review their processing methods to reduce additives and harmful substances in their products. To encourage consumers to make informed choices, food labels can We may also disclose more detailed information regarding processing methods and the content of additives and preservatives in the food.
Non-fiction books:
Metabolism: The temptations and lies of processed foods, nutrition, and modern medicinewritten by Dr. Robert Lustig, harper collinsMay 2021
How to gain weight: Overcoming sugar, processed foods, obesity and diseaseby Dr. Robert H. Lustig, penguin random house,December 2013
Pandora’s Lunchbox: How processed foods took over the American dietwritten by Melanie Warner; scrivnerFebruary 2014
Journalism and opinion:
Study finds diabetes and obesity on the rise among American youthwritten by Fenit Nirapil, washington postMarch 5, 2023
Eating ultra-processed foods may increase risk of death in people with type 2 diabeteswritten by Chantel Patmore; health lineJuly 27, 2023
Eating more processed foods increases your risk of diabeteswritten by Nicholas Bacalar, new york timesDecember 18, 2019
Ultra-processed foods: What we know about the potential health risks in Americans’ dietswritten by Andrea Petersen, wall street journalNovember 14, 2023
We’re producing a series reporting on the science behind the health risks of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). For more information on risks, please see the following fact sheet: DependenceWe have here a fact sheet that provides a general overview of , all-cause mortality, obesity, cancer, and UPF. These fact sheets are currently under development and will be updated. If you have research or articles that you think should be included in this series, please feel free to email us at [email protected].
