Individuals who regularly consume ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to those with higher intakes of less processed foods, scientists have said.
Food is either categorised as ultra-processed, processed, processed culinary ingredients, minimally processed and unprocessed, according to the Nova classification system.
A new study has found that a high intake of ultra-processed foods can trigger type 2 diabetes, as well as cardiovascular disease and obesity.
- Processed foods make up most of a teenager’s diet
- Plant-based ultra-processed foods linked to poor health outcomes
Prior research has found that regularly eating ultra-processed foods can increase an individual’s risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity and cancer.
During this trial, the team of researchers analysed the food intake of the participants by assessing their dietary questionnaires.
They found that the participants with the highest intake of ultra-processed foods were most at risk of going on to develop type 2 diabetes in the future.
Frequently consuming ready meals, artificially- and sugar-sweetened beverages, savoury snacks and animal-based products was also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the research has reported.
Read the study in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe.
