Peer-reviewed article
Nutrition transition's latest stage: Are ultra-processed food increases in low- and middle-income countries dooming our preschoolers' diets and future health?
Barry M Popkin, Amos Laar ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines how ultra-processed food consumption is rapidly increasing among infants and toddlers in low- and middle-income countries, even as stunting rates decline. At the same time, overweight and obesity are rising quickly, especially among poorer households. The research shows that young children are being introduced early to unhealthy foods high in sugar and sodium, which may shape their food preferences for life. The authors call for stronger protections, including marketing restrictions and warning labels on foods marketed to very young children.
Key points
- Ultra-processed food consumption is increasing significantly among preschool-aged children in low- and middle-income countries
- Overweight and obesity prevalence among children and mothers is rising rapidly while stunting declines slowly
- Poorer households are now experiencing faster increases in overweight and obesity compared to wealthier households
- Infants and toddlers are being socialized early to unhealthy discretionary foods, potentially establishing long-term dietary preferences for high-sugar and high-sodium products
- The study recommends expanding WHO marketing codes for ages 0-3 and front-of-package warning labels to reduce added sugars and sodium in foods for young children
Limitations
The document does not specify which individual low- and middle-income countries are included in the analysis, making it difficult to assess regional variation or applicability to specific contexts. The study uses secondary data sources and does not measure causal mechanisms linking UPF exposure to later health outcomes.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Rapid shifts in dietary patterns, marked by increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), are increasingly impacting the health and wellbeing of infants and toddlers in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Utilizing data from the Demographic and Health Surveys, other national surveys, NCD-RisC data and Euromonitor sales data, we examine changes in stunting and overweight/obesity prevalence alongside the latest data on UPF consumption trends. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight/obesity among children and mothers is increasing rapidly while stunting rates decline slowly. Simultaneously, there is a significant increase in consumption of UPFs, especially among preschool-aged children. Increasingly, poorer households are experiencing faster rates of increase in overweight and obesity prevalence compared to wealthier households. Results highlight the early socialization of infants and toddlers to unhealthy discretionary foods including UPFs, potentially setting the stage for long-term dietary preferences that favour food with high sugar or excess sodium. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need to address the rapid increases in UPF consumption among infants and toddlers. Options include expanding the WHO Code on marketing to protect 0-3-year-olds; creating front-of-package warning labels focusing on products for children ages 0-3 years to remove all added sugar and limit sodium in foods and beverages they consume.