Dietary Patterns and Health Outcomes in Children: The Role of Ultraprocessed Foods

Over the past few decades, there have been significant changes in children's dietary habits, with an increasing reliance on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) in their overall diet. Characterized by high levels of added sugars, unhealthy fats, salts, and artificial ingredients, UPFs often replace fresh and minimally processed foods in children's diets. At the same time, there has been a global increase in childhood obesity, metabolic disorders, and other non-communicable diseases. Recent research indicates that early dietary patterns have a crucial impact on lifelong health outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the role of UPFs in childhood nutrition to create effective prevention strategies and shape public health policies.

This Research Topic aims to explore the impact of the UPFs consumption on children’s health outcomes and dietary intake. Despite growing concerns, there is still limited clarity on how specific patterns of UPF consumption affect growth, development, and the risk of chronic diseases in children. We seek to highlight research that addresses this knowledge gap through epidemiological studies, interventions, dietary assessments, and policy evaluations. Contributions examining mechanisms underlying the health impacts of UPFs, socio-environmental determinants of consumption, and innovative methodologies for dietary pattern analysis are encouraged.

To gather further insights into the interconnection between UPF consumption and children's health, we welcome original research articles, systematic reviews and meta-analyses on topics including, but not limited to:

o Modeling dietary patterns and nutritional adequacy in children

o The influence of UPFs on obesity and metabolic health outcomes

o The relationship between UPFs and neurodevelopmental and gut microbiota health

o The role of the food environment in shaping dietary choices and UPF consumption

o Methodological challenges in dietary assessment and UPF classification using systems like NOVA

o Intervention strategies or policy implications aimed at reducing UPF intake in children.

Keywords: processed food, diet, nutrition, food intake, nutritional intake, child, adolescent, teen, health, mental conditions, physical conditions, Well-Being, obesity, noncommunicable Diseases, nutritional adequacy

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.