Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods by mothers during pregnancy and certain socioeconomic conditions are associated with greater intake of these products in childhood and early adolescence. Among children, spending more time in front of the television and engaging in less physical activity are also linked to higher consumption. This is shown by a study from the Unit of Nutritional Epidemiology (EPINUT) at the UMH, conducted as part of the INMA (Environment and Childhood) Project.
Ultra-processed foods, defined as industrial products often containing additives, flavors, or colorants with little nutritional value (soft drinks, packaged snacks, industrial pastries, etc.), constituted on average 25.4% of the daily food intake for 8-year-old children and 20.2% for 12-year-olds. Sweet products were the main category consumed. The study analyzed 1,565 mother-child pairs when children were around 8 years old and 314 when they were approximately 12, from Asturias, Gipuzkoa, Sabadell, and Valencia.
Furthermore, it was observed that at age 8, consumption was more frequent among children whose mothers had consumed more ultra-processed foods during pregnancy and belonged to more disadvantaged occupational categories. It was also associated with being male and spending more time watching television. At age 12, associations with maternal consumption during pregnancy and screen time persisted, while higher physical activity and mothers with university education correlated with a lower statistical probability of being among those who consumed the most ultra-processed foods.
The authors believe these findings, which indicate associations rather than direct causality, can contribute to designing public health interventions. These could combine nutritional education, family support, reduction of socioeconomic inequalities, and measures to decrease children's exposure to unhealthy food advertising.
The study, published in BMC Public Health, involved researchers from various institutions, including the Health Research Institute of Alicante (ISABIAL) and the Network Center for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), with public funding from the European Union and the Generalitat Valenciana.
