Examining the influence of socioeconomic factors on ultra-processed food consumption patterns of UK adolescents

Objective – Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption varies with socioeconomic status (SES) in adults and evidence suggests that similar patterns exist in adolescents. However, the relationship remains understudied in this critical developmental group. This study aimed to further characterize adolescent UPF consumption and its relationship with SES by exploring dietary patterns within UPF consumption. Design – Using food-diary data, adolescents’ UPF intake was quantified and categorized. Principal component and clustering analysis were used to identify dietary patterns. Associations of these dietary patterns with sociodemographic characteristics were then analysed. Setting – Pooled data from the rolling, cross-sectional National Diet and Nutrition Survey, waves 1-to-11 (2008-2019). Subjects – UK adolescents (11-to-18-year-olds) (n=3199). Results – Three UPF dietary patterns were identified: (i) the “Restrictive” pattern, which included the lowest total consumption of UPFs (95%CI: 33.1-34.9% g/day), but elevated consumption of UPFs often perceived as healthy, was associated with adolescents of a higher SES; (ii) the “Permissive” pattern included 61.6% g/day (95%CI: 60.3-63.0% g/day) total UPF, dominated by “ready-to-eat,” low nutrient-density UPFs, and was associated with adolescents of a lower SES; and (iii) the “Traditional” pattern had moderate consumption of total UPF (95% CI: 47.6-50.9% g/day) with higher intake of UPFs used in home-cooking and had less distinct associations with SES. Conclusion – Results suggest that SES impacts both the amount and type of UPF consumed by adolescents in the UK, underscoring the importance of this factor when designing interventions. Distinct dietary patterns within adolescents’ high UPF diets have potential behavioural, nutritional, and health implications.