Introduction
Ultraprocessed foods have been associated with an increased risk of noncommunicable
diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer as well as all-cause
mortality. The study aimed to estimate premature deaths attributable to the consumption
of ultraprocessed food in Brazil.
Methods
A comparative risk assessment model was developed on the basis of RRs from a recent
meta-analysis, national food consumption for 2017–2018, and demographic and mortality
data for 2019. Population attributable fractions for all-cause mortality were then
estimated within each sex and age stratum according to the distribution of the ultraprocessed
food contribution to the total energy of the diet. Analysis was conducted in February
2022–April 2022.
Results
The contribution of ultraprocessed foods to the total energy intake of the diet across
sex and age stratum of Brazilian adults ranged from 13% to 21% of the total energy
intake. A total of 541,160 adults aged 30‒69 years died in 2019. The consumption of
ultraprocessed foods was responsible for approximately 57,000 premature deaths (95%
uncertainty interval=33,493, 82,570) or 10.5% of all premature deaths in adults aged
30‒69 years. Reducing the contribution of ultraprocessed foods to the total energy
intake by 10%‒50% could potentially prevent 5,900 deaths (95% uncertainty interval=2,910,
10,613) to 29,300 deaths (95% uncertainty interval=16,514, 44,226), respectively.
Conclusions
The consumption of ultraprocessed foods represents a significant cause of premature
death in Brazil. Reducing ultraprocessed food intake would promote substantial health
gains for the population and should be a food policy priority to reduce premature
mortality.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 07, 2022
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© 2022 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
