Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Behavioral Outcomes in Canadian Children

Are ultraprocessed foods (UPF) associated with behavioral and emotional functioning among preschool children?In this cohort study of 2077 Canadian children, higher UPF intake at age 3 years was associated with adverse behavioral and emotional symptoms at age 5 years. Modeling the substitution of a portion of UPF with minimally processed foods was associated with better behavioral and emotional symptoms.These findings suggest that UPF consumption in early childhood may adversely influence behavioral and emotional development, and that ongoing public strategies promoting minimally processed foods in place of UPF could help support children’s development.

Corresponding Author: Kozeta Miliku, MD, PhD, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada (kozeta.miliku@utoronto.ca).

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