Effect of ultra processed foods on childrenImage Credit source: Pexels
Nowadays the lifestyle has become such that people are consuming a lot of processed foods in daily life. This not only saves time but also gives taste. In such a situation, not only adults but even children like to eat processed foods with great enthusiasm. In this, things like packed snacks, instant noodles, chips, packet juice, burgers and pizza have become a part of the diet. Although sometimes these things can be eaten for taste. But if it becomes a habit, it can cause great harm to health. Children especially need to be protected from such foods. Recently a report has also come out, in which it has been clearly stated that how the trade of processed foods is increasing in India and how much people are consuming them.
This report has also revealed how processed foods are having a negative impact on the health of children. Processed foods contain extra salt, sugar, bad oils, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and additives, which not only adversely affect the growing age of children, but also affect their physical, mental and emotional health. Let us know in detail in this article how processed foods are harming the health of children.
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What does research say about processed foods?
According to a recent report by The Lancet, the craze for ultra-processed foods is increasing rapidly, which is not only deteriorating the quality of food. Besides, the risk of diseases is also increasing. In this report, there is a need for further research on UPF (Ultra Processd Food), but it is clear that immediate steps should be taken in health policies to prevent the harm caused by it. It is not enough to just advise people to change their habits. Rather, the government will also have to decide policies regarding this. Because the business of processed food is increasing so much that traders are only thinking about their profits. But it is having a very bad impact on people’s health.
Effect of processed foods on children?
Ultra processed foods contain high amounts of fat, sugar and salt. Apart from this, it is filled with harmful components like stabilizers, emulsifiers, colorants, flavoring and cosmetic additives, which are considered extremely harmful for health. Traders are designing these ultra processed foods in such a way that not only children but also adults are attracted towards them. Their way of advertising is further increasing the sales of processed foods. Some children even consume ultra processed foods for breakfast, like noodles, namkeen, bilkut, chips etc. Children eat these things not once but twice a day. However, they are unaware that its consumption increases the risk of serious problems like obesity, diabetes, heart disease in children. Not only this, the fat present in it has a negative impact on the physical and mental health of children, due to which sleep problems, depression and intestinal imbalance are also common.
Trend of ultra processed foods increasing in India
The trend of ultra processed food is increasing very fast in India. Where in the year 2006, its retail sales in India were 0.9 billion USD. It has increased to approximately 38 billion USD in the year 2019. That means almost forty times increase has been observed. During this period, obesity is also doubling among women and men. According to ICMR-INDIAB-17 (2023), 1 in every 4 people is affected by obesity. 1 out of every 10 people suffers from diabetes. Not only this, the rate of obesity among children is also increasing rapidly. Which was 2.1 percent in 2026, now it has increased to 3.4 percent.
How dangerous are ultra processed foods for children?
Lancec reports show that ultra-processed foods are becoming a major threat to children’s health. Research has found that due to UPFs, problems like malnutrition, micronutrient deficiency and obesity are increasing in children. Along with this, metabolic diseases and mental health related problems can also occur. Its effect starts right after birth. Especially when the newborn baby is given infant formula or later prepared packaged supplements instead of mother’s milk. It is worth noting that infant formula and industrially made baby food also come in the list of ultra-processed food.
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