A study conducted by University College London has unveiled trends in the dietary habits of toddlers and young children in the UK, highlighting a reliance on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) for a substantial part of their daily calorie intake. Published in the European Journal of Nutrition, the research followed the diets of 2,591 children born in 2007 and 2008, mapping out the nutritional intake from infancy through to the early years of childhood.
The findings reveal that children as young as 21 months are obtaining nearly half of their daily calories from UPFs, with this figure escalating to 59% by the age of seven. UPFs frequently consumed by these age groups include flavoured yogurts and wholegrain breakfast cereals, which are often mistakenly considered healthy by parents. These foods, however, are typically high in added sugars and salts, raising concerns over the excessive consumption of these components.
Dr. Rana Conway, the study's lead author from UCL's Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, pointed out the potential for high UPF consumption to establish undesirable dietary patterns early on. "Aside from sugar and salt, a diet that includes a lot of ultra-processed food is less likely to get children used to the natural flavours of whole foods and therefore less likely to encourage healthy eating later in life," Dr. Conway remarked.
Highlighting the long-term implications, Professor Clare Llewellyn, senior author, underscored the significance of early eating habits in forming enduring dietary behaviors. The study observed that toddlers with a higher intake of UPFs at 21 months were more likely to maintain such dietary patterns up to their seventh year.
In light of these findings, the researchers advocate for policy interventions to enhance children's diets, suggesting stricter marketing regulations for unhealthy foods aimed at children, improved labeling for high sugar content, and subsidies to make fresh, minimally processed foods more accessible to families. Dr. Conway also commented on the difficulties parents face in making healthy food choices for their children, exacerbated by the affordability and marketing of highly processed foods.
The study calls for increased awareness and measures to reduce children's dependence on UPFs, cautioning against the early introduction of foods marketed as healthy alternatives that may detract from the acceptance of whole foods' natural flavors, with potential implications for long-term health.
Source: Open Access Government