Ultraprocessed Foods and Their Association With Cardiometabolic Health: Evidence, Gaps, and Opportunities: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association

Abstract

Ultraprocessed foods and beverages (UPFs) pose a growing public health challenge. Commonly defined by the Nova system, UPFs are industrially processed products made with additives or ingredients not commonly used in home cooking. Although ultraprocessing or extensive processing can lower cost and improve shelf life, convenience, and taste of certain products, high UPF intake is consistently linked to negative health outcomes. Although mechanisms remain unclear, evidence supports food policies that limit UPF intake while avoiding unintended consequences. Identifying high-risk UPF subgroups is essential to balancing nutritional goals with the need for accessible and appealing food options. Most UPFs overlap with foods high in saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium, which are already targets for cardiometabolic risk reduction. Future priorities include uncovering how UPFs specifically affect cardiometabolic health, refining dietary guidance to discourage nutrient-poor UPFs, and clarifying the impact of UPFs with more favorable profiles. This science advisory reviews current evidence on UPFs and their impact on cardiometabolic health and outlines research needs, regulatory reform, and policy changes needed to affect better dietary intake and overall health.

Keywords: AHA Scientific Statements; American Heart Association; cardiometabolic risk factors; dietary patterns; food, processed; food-processing industry; nutrition policy.