Study links ultra-processed foods to liver disease and insulin resistance in children living with obesity

A new study has found a significant connection between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the rise of metabolic disorders, including liver disease and insulin resistance, in children and adolescents living with obesity. The findings highlight the urgent need for improved dietary guidelines and public health measures to address this growing concern.

Published in the journal Nutrients, the study focused on the impact of ultra-processed foods on children aged 8 to 17 in Asia. Researchers discovered that high consumption of these foods, which are often low in nutritional value and high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and salts, was linked to metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), insulin resistance, and obesity.

Ultra-processed foods, widely consumed due to their long shelf life and convenience, have been increasingly linked to health issues in Western diets. However, their growing popularity in Asia, especially among children, is raising new alarms about the early onset of conditions like cardiovascular disease.

The study analysed data from a 2019–2020 childhood obesity intervention program in South Korea. It included 149 participants with a body mass index (BMI) above the 85th percentile. Caregivers completed food diaries for the children, and various health measurements were taken, including liver enzyme levels and body fat assessments. Results showed that a 10 per cent increase in ultra-processed food intake was associated with a 37 per cent rise in the odds of moderate to severe MASLD and a 30 per cent increase in the likelihood of insulin resistance.

The researchers concluded that more studies are needed to fully understand how ultra-processed foods affect metabolic and liver health, but the findings underline the urgent need for healthier dietary choices in addressing childhood obesity.