Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Obesity in Korean Adults. 2023

Jee-Seon Shim, and Kyoung Hwa Ha, and Dae Jung Kim, and Hyeon Chang Kim
Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

This study aimed to investigate the association between consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and obesity in Korean adults. We included the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center cohort study baseline data of adults aged 30 to 64 years who completed a validated food frequency questionnaire. UPF was defined using the NOVA food classification. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of dietary energy contribution of UPF with obesity indicators (body mass index [BMI], obesity, waist circumference [WC], and abdominal obesity). Consumption of UPF accounted for 17.9% of total energy intake and obesity and abdominal obesity prevalence was 35.4% and 30.2%, respectively. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of UPF consumption, adults in the highest quartile had greater BMI (β=0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15 to 0.56), WC (β=1.03; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.60), higher odds of having obesity (odds ratio [OR], 1.24; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.45), and abdominal obesity (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.57), after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, and family history of diseases. Dose-response associations between UPF consumption and obesity indicators were consistently found (all P trend <0.01). However, the strength of association was halved for all obesity indicators after further adjustments for total energy intake and overall diet quality score, and the trend toward association for obesity and WC disappeared. Our finding supports the evidence that consumption of UPF is positively associated with obesity among Korean adults.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009765 Obesity A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000092965 Food, Processed Any raw agricultural commodity that has been subject to washing, cleaning, milling, cutting, chopping, heating, pasteurizing, blanching, cooking, canning, freezing, drying, dehydrating, mixing, packaging or other procedures that alter the food from its natural state. (from A Guide to Federal Terms and Acronyms. Lanham, MD: Government Institutes.1991) Food, Ultra-Processed,Processed Foods,Ultra-Processed Foods,Food, Ultra Processed,Foods, Processed,Foods, Ultra-Processed,Processed Food,Ultra Processed Foods,Ultra-Processed Food
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D015331 Cohort Studies Studies in which subsets of a defined population are identified. These groups may or may not be exposed to factors hypothesized to influence the probability of the occurrence of a particular disease or other outcome. Cohorts are defined populations which, as a whole, are followed in an attempt to determine distinguishing subgroup characteristics. Birth Cohort Studies,Birth Cohort Study,Closed Cohort Studies,Cohort Analysis,Concurrent Studies,Historical Cohort Studies,Incidence Studies,Analysis, Cohort,Cohort Studies, Closed,Cohort Studies, Historical,Studies, Closed Cohort,Studies, Concurrent,Studies, Historical Cohort,Analyses, Cohort,Closed Cohort Study,Cohort Analyses,Cohort Studies, Birth,Cohort Study,Cohort Study, Birth,Cohort Study, Closed,Cohort Study, Historical,Concurrent Study,Historical Cohort Study,Incidence Study,Studies, Birth Cohort,Studies, Cohort,Studies, Incidence,Study, Birth Cohort,Study, Closed Cohort,Study, Cohort,Study, Concurrent,Study, Historical Cohort,Study, Incidence
D056128 Obesity, Abdominal A condition of having excess fat in the abdomen. Abdominal obesity is typically defined as waist circumferences of 40 inches or more in men and 35 inches or more in women. Abdominal obesity raises the risk of developing disorders, such as DIABETES; HYPERTENSION; and METABOLIC SYNDROME. Central Obesity,Abdominal Obesity,Obesity, Visceral,Visceral Obesity,Abdominal Obesities,Central Obesities,Obesities, Abdominal,Obesities, Central,Obesities, Visceral,Obesity, Central,Visceral Obesities
D056910 Republic of Korea The capital is Seoul. The country, established September 9, 1948, is located on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Its northern border is shared with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Korea, Republic of,South Korea
D057140 Fast Foods Prepared food that is ready to eat or partially prepared food that has a final preparation time of a few minutes or less. Convenience Foods,Meals, Ready-To-Eat,Ready-Prepared Foods,Ready-To-Eat Meals,Convenience Food,Fast Food,Food, Convenience,Food, Fast,Food, Ready-Prepared,Foods, Convenience,Foods, Fast,Foods, Ready-Prepared,Meal, Ready-To-Eat,Meals, Ready To Eat,Ready Prepared Foods,Ready To Eat Meals,Ready-Prepared Food,Ready-To-Eat Meal

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