Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Is Associated With Poor Diet Quality and Nutrient Intake Among Adolescents in Urban Slums, Kenya

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Objectives: To assess the caloric contribution of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), factors associated with UPFs energy intake and investigate the relationship between UPFs energy intake, diet quality and nutrient intake among adolescents in urban slums, Kenya. Methods: A cross-sectional household study amongst adolescents (10-19 years, N = 621) collected socio-demographic and dietary intake data. Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS); mean and percentage total energy intake (%TEI) from UPFs; and nutrient intakes were computed. Regression analysis assessed the factors associated with UPFs energy intake, and the association between %TEI from UPFs and diet quality. Results: Mean daily energy intake was 1,604 kcal (±550), 25.2% from UPFs. Higher leisure screen time (≥2 h/day) [OR = 1.9 (1.2-3.1)] was associated with UPFs energy intake. Household wealth index (quintile five vs. one) [OR = 2.6 (1.3-6.0)] was associated with non-UPFs energy intake. UPFs (%TEI) was inversely associated with GDQS score (quartile four vs. one) [β = -2.9 (-3.4 to -2.1)]. Adolescents with higher %TEI from UPFs (quartile four) had highest total energy, total fat and saturated fat; and lowest protein, fibre, iron, calcium and zinc intake. Conclusion: UPFs contribute substantially to adolescents' energy intake and are linked to poor diet quality and nutrient intake.