A high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) often leads to weight gain, new research has claimed.
A recent investigation has found that a high intake of UPFs can trigger the development of obesity.
Around the world, one billion people are living with obesity, meaning they are at risk of developing a number of chronic conditions.
Examples of UPFs include processed meats, cakes, biscuits, confectionary, fried snacks, ice cream and fizzy drinks.
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Minimally processed or unprocessed foods include grains, vegetables, fruit, meat and pasteurised milk.
In Brazil, the primary health care system offers free physical education and training sessions to vulnerable populations.
Additionally, some centres provided people with a nutritional intervention on fruits and vegetables.
During this study, the team of researchers analysed data from 18 health centres in Brazil, with nine of these providing the nutrition intervention.
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The 3,414 participants involved in the trial were placed into either an intervention or control group. Each participant had to fill in food questionnaires to outline their dietary patterns.
Those in the intervention group took part in education panels, cooking competitions, workshops, group sessions and movie screenings designed to encourage them to increase their intake of fruits and vegetables.
The results stated: “Those who consumed more UPFs showed greater weight variations than those who consumed the least, with no significant differences between intervention and control.”
Read the study in the journal Nutrients.
