Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Sustainable Lifestyles: A Multicenter Study

<b>Background:</b> Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has increased significantly in Latin America and Spain, impacting both health and environmental sustainability. To our knowledge, this is the first multicenter study to examine the association between UPF consumption and sustainable lifestyle behaviors in Latin America and Spain. <b>Objective:</b> To evaluate the association between UPF consumption and sustainable lifestyle behaviors in Latin America and Spain. <b>Methods:</b> This was an observational, analytical, multicenter, cross-sectional study. A validated, self-administered online questionnaire was distributed in 14 countries between March 2023 and January 2024. The survey collected sociodemographic data, UPF intake (classified using the NOVA system), body mass index and sustainable lifestyle behaviors (food, transport, environment). Multivariate linear regression models were applied to assess associations, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, physical activity and BMI. <b>Results:</b> Among 6009 adults (mean age: 34.98 ± 12.55; 79.5% women), those with the highest consumption of UPF (fast food, beverages and juices, salty snacks and sweet snacks) were significantly more likely to be in the least sustainable quartile compared to those who did not consume these food products ((OR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.79-3.54), (OR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.50-2.22), (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.32-1.73) and (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.20-1.67), respectively, with <i>p</i> values < 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> High consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is inversely associated with sustainable lifestyles. These findings position UPF consumption not only as a health problem but also as a key indicator of unsustainable lifestyles.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Nutrients
Published
2026-01-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18020365
Primary Topic
Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Sustainable Lifestyles: A Multicenter Study

J. Sineiro Torres, Beatriz Núñez‐Martínez, Jorge de Assis Costa, Leslie Landaeta‐Díaz et al.
Nutrients
Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
article

Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Sustainable Lifestyles: A Multicenter Study

J. Sineiro Torres, Beatriz Núñez‐Martínez, Jorge de Assis Costa, Leslie Landaeta‐Díaz, Tannia Valeria Carpio-Arias, Jacqueline Araneda‐Flores, Edna J. Nava‐González, Georgina M. Gómez, Eliana Romina Meza-Miranda, Jhon Jairo Bejarano-Roncancio, Solange Parra‐Soto, Patricio Pérez-Armijo, Melissa Miranda-Durán, Macarena Jara Nercasseau, Carla Villagrán-Cerro, Aguilar Ana Maria, Gloria Maricela Morales, Saby Mauricio, Samuel Durán-Agüero, Israel Rios-Castillo, Ana Gabriela Murillo, Alfonsina Ortiz, Gladys Morales, Brian M. Cavagnari, João P. M. Lima, Karla Cordón-Arrivilaga, Catalina Ramirez-Contreras, Saby Camacho
article en

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has increased significantly in Latin America and Spain, impacting both health and environmental sustainability. To our knowledge, this is the first multicenter study to examine the association between UPF consumption and sustainable lifestyle behaviors in Latin America and Spain. <b>Objective:</b> To evaluate the association between UPF consumption and sustainable lifestyle behaviors in Latin America and Spain. <b>Methods:</b> This was an observational, analytical, multicenter, cross-sectional study. A validated, self-administered online questionnaire was distributed in 14 countries between March 2023 and January 2024. The survey collected sociodemographic data, UPF intake (classified using the NOVA system), body mass index and sustainable lifestyle behaviors (food, transport, environment). Multivariate linear regression models were applied to assess associations, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, physical activity and BMI. <b>Results:</b> Among 6009 adults (mean age: 34.98 ± 12.55; 79.5% women), those with the highest consumption of UPF (fast food, beverages and juices, salty snacks and sweet snacks) were significantly more likely to be in the least sustainable quartile compared to those who did not consume these food products ((OR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.79-3.54), (OR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.50-2.22), (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.32-1.73) and (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.20-1.67), respectively, with <i>p</i> values < 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> High consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is inversely associated with sustainable lifestyles. These findings position UPF consumption not only as a health problem but also as a key indicator of unsustainable lifestyles.

NutrientsVol. 18(2)
Universidad de La Frontera (CL), Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (BO), Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (GT), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (MX), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (ES), Universidad Iberoamericana (MX), Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (BR), University of Bío-Bío (CL), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (PT), Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (AR), San Sebastián University (CL), Universidad de Costa Rica (CR), Universidad Nacional de Colombia (CO), Universidad Salvadoreña Alberto Masferrer (SV), University of the Americas (CL), Universidad del Norte (PY), Universidad Norbert Wiener (PE), Escuela Superior Politécnica del Chimborazo (EC), Universidad Isabel I (ES), Universidad de la Integración de las Américas (PY), Universidad Nacional de Asunción (PY), Universidad Católica del Uruguay (UY)
Universidad del Bío-Bío
Openalex Percentile: Top 81%
Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.