A new study has discovered that children as young as three years of age exhibit risk factors for cardiometabolic issues, such as diabetes, stroke, and heart attack, in adulthood.
Examining Cardiometabolic Risks in Very Young Children
Dr. Stuart Berger, a pediatric cardiologist and the chair of the cardiology and cardiac surgery section of the American Academy of Pediatrics, says that one of the crucial things to learn is that some of the issues faced in adulthood may typically start from quite early in life.
The study, "Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children,," examined data from over 1,400 children aged three to six, recruited from schools in seven cities throughout Spain.
The children's caregivers personally met the researchers and answered questionnaires regarding demographics, physical activity, and food consumption from 2019 to 2022.
The researchers then divided the data into three groups based on their consumption of ultra-processed foods. The children who ate the most ultra-processed foods were likelier to have risk factors, such as a waist-to-height ratio, higher body mass index, and systolic blood pressure.
However, it is essential to note that the study is observational. Although researchers may pinpoint the link between children's health and ultra-processed food consumption, they cannot conclude any causal relationships.
Nevertheless, being mindful and cautious about ultra-processed foods for very young children is important. Dr. Berger explains that early nutrition largely affects how children eat for the rest of their lives. The doctor adds that adjusting a child's diet away from such foods and towards fresher options is easier when they are young.
ALSO READ : Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Shorter Lifespan, Study Reveals; How Dangerous Are They?
But Ultra-Processed Foods Are Easy and Convenient
However, the issue lies with how avoiding such foods is not accessible for everyone. According to the study, the children with the highest ultra-processed food consumption had mothers with a higher BMI, were younger, and had low employment and education levels. Dr. Andrew Freeman, the director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at the National Jewish Health, says that in places where it could be more challenging to obtain fresh food, ultra-processed food could be more affordable and accessible.
These foods are also highly convenient. Because of this, people may opt for these foods when feeding kids. The children get filled with various substances and chemicals and seasoning of sugars and salts.
Dr. Freeman also stresses that when children are given ultra-processed foods without vegetables and fresh fruits, they may experience problems later on. Dr. Berger also notes that adding more healthy foods and encouraging physical activity as much as possible is crucial. He explains that if it is possible to introduce a healthy lifestyle early on, metabolic syndromes could be eliminated later.
Ultra-Processed Foods
Ultra-processed foods are food items that contain ingredients that are rarely or never used inside the kitchen or additives that are added to make the final product more appealing or palatable. Such ingredients include chips, chicken nuggets, sodas, ice cream, and packaged soups.
These ingredients may include preservatives that combat bacteria or mold and other chemicals, such as artificial coloring, separation-stopping emulsifiers, and altered or added sugar, fats, and salts to increase the appeal of the food.
Several studies have shown that ultra-processed foods yield adverse effects. However, this study is one of the earliest to examine how these foods affect young children's cardiometabolic health.
RELATED ARTICLE : Several Ultra-processed Foods Could Have Been Pre-Digested, Making Them More Addictive and Less Filling, Experts Warn
Check out more news and information on Medicine & Health in Science Times.
