“Diet soft drinks were the key contributor to ultraprocessed food consumption. The NOVA classification system sorts foods from minimally processed — whole foods such as fruits and vegetables — to processed foods such as deli meat and sausage — to ultraprocessed. The study found that people who consumed the most ultraprocessed food were younger and heavier, and had an overall poorer quality of diet than those who ate fewer ultraprocessed foods. “If anything, we are probably underestimating ultraprocessed food consumption in our study because we’re being very conservative,” Loftfield said. “However, all categories of ultraprocessed food were associated with increased risk.”Choosing more minimally processed foods is a one way to limit ultraprocessed foods in one’s diet, Loftfield said.

---

Persons: Erikka Loftfield, ” Loftfield, ”, Carlos Monteiro, Brazil’s University of São Paulo, Monteiro, Loftfield, Rosie Green, Anastasiia, Green, “, Mingyang, Harvard University’s Organizations: CNN, National Cancer Institute, “, Brazil’s University of São, NOVA, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations, American Society for Nutrition, US National Institutes of Health, AARP Diet, Health, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, Harvard, Harvard University’s TH Chan, of Public Health Locations: Bethesda , Maryland, Chicago