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Teens eating less ultra-processed food for first time in 30 years

"The decrease has been sustainable and continued its downward trend."

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By Stephen Beech via SWNS

Teenagers ate less junk food during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study reveals.

It is the first time the amount of ultra-processed food eaten by adolescents has fallen for 30 years.

Hot dog
(Chatham172/Shutterstock)

Examples of ultra-processed foods include burgers, ham, sausages, crisps, ice cream, mass-produced bread, breakfast cereals, biscuits, fizzy drinks, fruit-flavored yogurt, instant soups, and some alcoholic drinks including whisky, gin, and rum.

Scientists say the decline in junk food consumption among American teenagers took place in the wake of several "unprecedented" changes brought by the pandemic - including the closure of schools, social restrictions and the shift to working from home.

Maria Balhara, of Broward College in Florida and a lead researcher of the study, said: “We found that teenagers' consumption of these foods has decreased significantly during COVID-19.

“Further, the decrease has been sustainable and continued its downward trend even after easing pandemic restrictions.”

Ultra-processed food and drinks are widely linked to rising obesity and expanding waistlines.

junk food or fast food with burger and french fries
(Speed Stock/Shutterstock)

Previous research has found that ultra-processed food intake now comprises two-thirds (67 percent) of the adolescent diet.

The new findings come from 452 participants aged 13 to 19 in the Processed Intake Evaluation (PIE) study.

The findings, published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, showed that after the COVID-19 restrictions were introduced, participants’ average ultra-processed food consumption score dropped by nearly six percent.

It continued to decline as the COVID-19 restrictions eased, and is now almost 14 percent below the level it was before the pandemic began.

Ms. Balhara added: “The early findings of this study provide an encouraging signal and a window of opportunity for strengthening nutritional and behavioral programs aimed at curbing the obesity epidemic,”

The findings were presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

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