Impact of Ultra-Processed Food on Obesity

The rising popularity of cheap fast food, sedentary lifestyles, and a lack of time for cooking have led to half of Brazilians being overweight and 16% being obese. Scientists in Brazil have extensively studied ultra-processed food and its impact on health, with over a decade of research resulting in hundreds of peer-reviewed papers. The definition of ultra-processed food includes items wrapped in plastic containing at least one non-typical kitchen ingredient. This type of food, such as biscuits, breads, confectionery, ice cream, and soft drinks, is widely available in supermarkets and has been linked to poor dietary habits and obesity.