Junk food dramatically increases the incidence of mental illness

 Ultra-processed foods have increased the risk of 32 adverse health effects. Among them are both physical illnesses and mental disorders.

Ultra-processed foods make up a fairly large part of the daily diet in many countries. Where income levels are high, such food can account for up to 58% of daily energy intake.

Previous research has linked highly processed foods to poorer health. The fact is that fast food, sweet drinks, pastries and other food from this category go through many industrial processes, often contain artificial additives and a large amount of sugar, fat and salt with a lack of vitamins and fiber needed by the body, informs UAINFO.org.

Australian scientists from Monash University, the University of Sydney, the Australian Pediatric Medical Research Institute and James Cook University conducted a comprehensive review of 45 meta-analyses from 14 review articles on the association of ultra-processed foods with adverse outcomes. All articles included in the review were published in the past three years and were based on data from nearly 10 million individuals. The results of a large evaluation of the accumulated evidence were published in the journal The BMJ.

People who ate the most ultra-processed foods faced a 50% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. They were 48-53% more likely to have anxiety and common mental disorders, 22% more likely to be depressed, and 12% more likely to have type 2 diabetes. The risk of death from any cause increased by 21%.

Evidence that ultra-processed foods are linked to asthma, gastrointestinal disease and some types of cancer is limited, researchers say. The arguments in favor of the hypotheses that "junk food" leads to high blood fat and low levels of "good cholesterol" received the same rating.

The scientists noted that the results of the comprehensive review could be influenced by indicators not measured by the authors of the original studies. However, the researchers used rigorous scientific methods to evaluate the reviewed reviews and meta-analyses, and the findings stood up to rigorous scrutiny.

The authors of the study called for state regulation of the amount of ultra-processed foods that people eat every day. They proposed not to sell baked goods, sodas, breakfast cereals, ready-to-eat foods and convenience foods in hospitals and schools, and to limit advertising of such foods. According to the researchers, economic measures are also necessary so that unprocessed, minimally processed products, as well as freshly prepared meals become no less accessible than "junk food".