Maternal consumption of ultra-processed foods and subsequent risk of offspring overweight or obesity: results from three prospective cohort studies

Dear Editor:

With great interest, I read the recent research paper by Wang and his colleagues on Maternal consumption of ultra-processed foods and subsequent risk of offspring overweight or obesity: results from three prospective cohort studies[1]. As a graduate student in the global health major, I firmly endorse their point of view, thus limiting the consumption of ultra-processed foods by mothers and women of childbearing age can reduce the risk of children becoming overweight. And we should not ignore the social determinants of health that may prevent women from reducing their intake of ultra-processed foods. As a global citizen concerned with sociology who takes heed of social anxiety about food safety and desire for natural foods, I am writing to bring to the public’s attention the seriousness of such a phenomenon.

The paper provided solid evidence on albeit already ample scruple of whether long-term consumption of overly processed foods can have substantial health effects. Following the momentum, I searched lots of related information. A British study shows similar studies have been done on ultra-processed foods and chronic noncommunicable diseases[2]. In the process of comparing and reading the two articles, I found some problems that confused me. Here I would like to discuss them with you.

1. There is a subtle difference between the statistics of height and weight. Height can only increase or stay the same over time, but weight may fluctuate between the two statistical intervals. Whether there are children who are overweight during the time period and are not counted, it will have a certain impact on the final results.

2. There is a large portion of compound foods in the food category, which are composed of two or more single foods mixed together. The article does not appear to address dishes that do not clearly identify their main ingredients, or how non-caloric supplements are classified. This omission may affect the consumption statistics of ultra-processed foods.

Some time ago, a blogger's live broadcast of homemade ultra-processed food made with chemicals sparked a heated debate on the Chinese Internet[3]. This article directly quantifies the potential health effects of ultra-processed foods and responds to social concerns about food safety. In this social environment, I would like to share some ideas on the popular demand for ultra-processed foods.

 Pay special attention to special groups (e.g., Pregnant women, infants, patients with chronic diseases, the elderly, etc);
 Food types are transparent and labeled;
 Cooking methods and additive measurements are strictly regulated;
 Improve the nutritional value of ultra-processed foods and increase their competitiveness.

In summary, there are complex social issues behind frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods. In the case of China, the current strict outbreak control regime has made it difficult to access natural foods, both economically and logistically. I believe that ultra-processed food may become the main source of food for a certain group under special social circumstances, and how to ensure food quality and strive to achieve health equity is the focus of the present.

1. Wang Y, Wang K, Du M, Khandpur N, Rossato S L, Lo C et al. Maternal consumption of ultra-processed foods and subsequent risk of offspring overweight or obesity: results from three prospective cohort studies BMJ 2022; 379 :e071767 doi:10.1136/bmj-2022-071767
2. Rauber, F., da Costa Louzada, M. L., Steele, E. M., Millett, C., Monteiro, C. A., & Levy, R. B. (2018). Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases-Related Dietary Nutrient Profile in the UK (2008⁻2014). Nutrients, 10(5), 587. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10050587
3. Rui, Z. (2022, October 6). A Blogger Who Exposed China’s Notorious Food Technology: Tiktok Has Been Banned. rfa 2022.10.06.