Junk food hikes risk of 32 diseases and health conditions — including death: scientists

These convenient eats are coming for more than just your waistline.

A new study has found an association between ultra-processed foods and over 30 health complications, including depression, sleep disturbances and death related to cardiovascular disease.

“Overall, direct associations were found between exposure to ultra-processed foods and 32 (71%) health parameters spanning mortality, cancer, and mental, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and metabolic health outcomes,” study author Dr. Melissa Lane, an associate research fellow at Deakin University, told South West News Service.

“These findings support urgent mechanistic research and public health actions that seek to target and minimize ultra-processed food consumption for improved population health.”

Ultra-processed foods — low-cost, easy-to-prepare items like cereal bars, frozen meals and pre-packaged snacks — comprise 60% of Americans’ diets and have been previously linked to poor health outcomes like cancer or cognitive decline.

But the latest research, published Wednesday in the BMJ, is an “umbrella review” of 45 scientific reports published during the previous three years, including data from nearly 10 million patients and volunteers.

Studies included in the review were categorized and graded based on the strength of their findings.

The most “convincing” studies researchers found on the effects of high ultra-processed food consumption culminated in a 50% increased risk of death related to cardiovascular disease, a 48-53% increased risk of mental disorders or anxiety and a 12% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Other studies “highly suggest[ed]” that ultra-processed food was linked to an overall 40-60% heightened risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, sleep issues, and mortality related to heart disease. It was also associated with a 22% higher risk of developing depression and a 21% higher risk of all-cause mortality.

However, Lane noted that umbrella reviews such as theirs do not account for other possible factors that could have contributed to those outcomes.

Based on their findings, the team of researchers called for policy changes to highlight the potential harms of ultra-processed food, such as cigarette-style labeling, limited advertising and banning the sale of products in places like schools or medical facilities, to reduce exposure to such products that could pose a health threat.

“Multidisciplinary investigations are needed to identify the most effective ways to control and reduce ultra-processing and to quantify and track the cost-benefits and other effects of all such policies and actions on human health and welfare, society, culture, employment, and the environment,” Lane said.