Researchers from the University of Tokyo performed the first study to quantify highly processed food consumption and to investigate its association with diet quality among Japanese children and adolescents. The research is published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics . Highly processed foods (HPFs) accounted for over one-fourth of the total energy intake among youths.
Consumption was negatively associated with the intake of healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables and pulses, and positively associated with the consumption of confectioneries. It's common knowledge that poor-quality diets are considered major risk factors for many health issues and even noncommunicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Therefore, researchers seek to understand factors related to diet quality as a way to improve people's health.
Research on HPFs has been rapidly increasing, highlighting their potential impact on public health. However, few studies have been conducted in Japan, with none focusing on children and adolescents, due to challenges in assessing them. "Our previous research on HPF consumption in adults in Japan found that higher consumption was negatively associated with diet quality.
This significant finding prompted us to investigate whether similar associations exist in younger generations ," said Assistant Professor Nana Shinozaki from the School of Public Health. "My team and I ran a cross-sectional study, one where many people are assessed in a short space o.