Association between Ultraprocessed Food Intake and Overweight, Obesity, and Malnutrition among Children in Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Childhood is a critical period for susceptibility to malnutrition. The consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) has been increasing among children. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between UPF intake and overweight/obesity and malnutrition in children. 788 children aged 6 years were included in a population-based cross-sectional study in Tehran. A 168-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate dietary intake. UPFs were detected using the NOVA classification system. Logistic regression analyses were used, and results were reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of obesity and malnutrition across the tertiles of UPFs adjusted for energy intake, socioeconomic status, and physical activity. The mean weight, height, BMI, and total energy intake of participants were 20.85 ± 2.35 kg, 113.75 ± 2.00 cm, 16.12 + 1.84 kg/m², and 1014.74 ± 259.16 (kcal/d), respectively. There were no significant associations between UPF intake and obesity (OR = 0.97; 95% CI 0.31 to 3.01; P-trend = 0.98), wasting (OR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.30 to 2.87; P-trend = 0.87), overweight/obesity (OR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.59 to 1.25; P-trend = 0.45), underweight/wasting (OR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.40 to 1.17; P-trend = 0.17), marginal-stunting (OR = 1.16; 95% CI 0.71 to 1.89; P-trend = 0.53), or marginal-stunting/overweight/obesity (OR = 1.25; 95% CI 0.62 to 2.54; P-trend = 0.47). There was no evidence of an association between intake of UPFs and risk of overweight, obesity, and malnutrition in children.