University of Toronto research finds diet putting Canadian kids at risk of obesity
Canadian preschoolers are getting nearly half their calories from ultra-processed foods and it’s putting them at risk of obesity, according to a new study.
Ultra-processed foods, which include sweetened breakfast cereals, frozen meals, fast food, chips and candy, are often high in added sugar, salt and saturated fats, Miliku said. They often contain artificial flavours, preservatives, sweeteners and emulsifiers, and lack many essential nutrients. They found that the three-year-olds were getting 45 per cent of their daily energy from ultra-processed foods. Moreover, high consumption of those foods at age three was linked to higher body fat and obesity risk at age five, especially among boys. The researchers used the World Health Organization definition of obesity.
The researchers also suggested that emulsifiers and additives in ultra-processed foods can change the gut microbiome, and could have different effects in men and women. For example, Miliku said, the lack of fibre in these foods can promote the growth of bad bacteria in the gut.
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