By: Justin Hall
A large-scale meta analysis in the UK, according to UK Biobank records, demonstrated that 200,000 adults were monitored on their diets and looking for any risks of cancer. A dietary recall was conducted between 2009 and 2012. Dietary recalls are a structured interview intended to capture detailed information about all foods and beverages.
UK researchers discovered there has been a significant amount of study discovering the correlation between processed foods and cancer. Another study that was conducted before this one showed that the UK was the highest in terms of a population in Europe consuming ultra-processed foods.
Dr. Kiara Chang of Imperial College of London has been working on ultra-processed food research over the last four years. Her collaborators have been working on it much longer.
"Our study findings suggest that cutting back on ultra-processed foods may have important benefits on cancer risk," said Dr. Chang. "As ultra-processed food consumption is linked with a range of poor health outcomes including obesity and type 2 diabetes, it is important that people are aware of the health risks of consuming them in high levels."
Dr. Chang said that research and observation of the food environment with an increasing number of and range of ultra-processed foods being made available over time inspired her to investigate this subject.
She also went on to state that nations such as the U.S. and the U.K. are consuming more than half of their daily energy intake from ultra-processed foods.
"This is alarming given the growing evidence from research, including this study, has found higher ultra-processed food consumption harmful for many health outcomes," said Dr. Chang.
"Therefore, it is important we cut down on the consumption of ultra-processed foods in diet to protect our health."
A previous study was conducted from 2005 to 2010 in Italy and it showed over 24,000 men and women participated. The researchers were investigating genetic and environmental risk factors that could contribute to their diets and subsequently cause cancer. Participants with missing data on their files were excluded. Food intake was evaluated during the Italy survey one year prior.
Quantities of food during the Italy survey were also evaluated on certain foods being consumed and selecting an image of a food portion of a predefined standard portion when no image was available.
In the U.S., another trend in food consumption was tested between 2001 and 2018 . The results showed that consumption of processed foods increased among all U.S. adults from 53.5 to 57%. All parts of the U.S. have shown increase over the last two decades.