Ultra-processed food consumption and NCD-related dietary nutrient profile in a national sample of French children and adolescents.

Aim: The consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF) and its impact on diet quality has been extensively studied and reported in the literature, but only a few studies have focused on children and adolescents. The present study therefore aimed to describe UPF consumption in a representative sample of French children and adolescents and to evaluate its association with diet quality. Methods: The study included 1146 children and teenagers (3–17 years old) from the cross-sectional French Nutrition and Health Study 2006/2007 who completed three 24-hour food recalls over a period of 15 days. Food consumption was described using the NOVA classification. Regression models were used to estimate the association between UPF consumption and diet quality. Results: The UPF dietary share in children and adolescents represented 44.2% and 44.5% of total energy intake respectively. In both age groups, UPF consumption was positively associated with dietary energy density and total carbohydrate and free sugars content, but negatively associated with dietary contents of protein, fiber, and potassium. UPF consumption also showed a positive association with inadequate intakes of energy density, free sugars, fiber, and potassium among children, and inadequate consumption of fiber and free sugars among teenagers. Conclusion: Higher UPF consumption among French children and adolescents is associated with a lower quality diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]