A recent Frontiers in Nutrition study assesses the association between metabolic diseases and the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

Background
Reducing the consumption of UPFs is typically recommended to prevent the development of metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Metabolic diseases adversely affect organs, tissues, or cells and are caused by the decomposition and abnormal synthesis of certain substances during metabolism.

The precise etiology of metabolic diseases remains unclear. Nevertheless, both environmental and genetic factors influence their occurrence, among which diet is an easily modifiable environmental factor.

The NOVA food classification system defines UPFs as a class of foods arising from industrial formulations created from extracted substances, additives, and little intact food. Examples of UPFs include cakes, snacks, sausages, and sweetened beverages.

Research has identified an association between various metabolic diseases and UPF consumption. However, some question this association, claiming that these relationships established in the literature are prone to biases.