Latest news with #AmericanJournalofPreventiveMedicine
The Star
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Stop eating ultraprocessed food if you don't want an early death
With their poor diet, Americans face the highest increased risk of death among eight countries. — TNS People eating ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) might be snacking their way to an earlier death, says research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine . From white bread to soda, the hallmark features of UPFs include added sugar, salt, hydrogenated fats, artificial colours, preservatives and starches. UPFs make up roughly 58% of American diets, the most out of any country. According to lead study investigator Eduardo Nilson, as far as diets go, it's a potentially deadly one. 'We first estimated a linear association between the dietary share of UPFs and all-cause mortality, so that each 10% increase in the participation of UPFs in the diet increases the risk of death from all causes by 3%,' he said in a news release. Nilson and his team of researchers pooled data on UPFs from eight countries, including the United States. Worldwide, the US outranked every other featured country for having the highest concentration of UPFs in its diets. Americans consequently faced the highest increased risk of death – nearly 14%. The study estimated 124,000 premature deaths within the US were attributable to UPF consumption in 2018 alone. UPF consumption has previously been linked to 32 health conditions, including cancers, obesity and high blood pressure. Nilson and his team's work, however, has given researchers a better understanding of precisely how all of those different influences may be putting consumers at risk. 'UPFs affect health beyond the individual impact of high content of critical nutrients (sodium, trans fats and sugar) because of the changes in the foods during industrial processing and the use of artificial ingredients, including colourants, artificial flavours and sweeteners, emulsifiers and many other additives and processing aids. 'So, assessing deaths from all-causes associated with UPF consumption allows an overall estimate of the effect of industrial food processing on health,' Nilson explained. While the US is facing the highest rate of attributable premature deaths, UPFs are becoming an expanding issue in many other countries. 'It is concerning that, while in high-income countries UPF consumption is already high but relatively stable for over a decade, in low- and middle-income countries the consumption has continuously increased, meaning that while the attributable burden in high-income countries is currently higher, it is growing in the other countries,' Nilson said. 'This shows that policies that disincentivise the consumption of UPFs are urgently needed globally, promoting traditional dietary patterns based on local fresh and minimally processed foods.' For this study, Nilson's team processed data on UPF consumption in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the US. – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Tribune News Service
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Health Talk: Why CBSE's move to have sugar boards in schools is healthy
There is a new Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) directive, asking schools affiliated to it across the country to establish sugar boards that will display information on sugar content in everyday foods, its health risks, and alternatives to sugary snacks and drinks. The board has some 26,000 schools affiliated to it across the country, and the aim behind the move has been to be able to cut down the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Why this move makes absolute sense is because type 2 diabetes is rising considerably in the Indian population owing largely to bad eating habits and almost zero physical activity. What is worse is that more children have been turning overweight or obese— a major risk factor for getting type 2 diabetes— lately because of their increased consumption of ultra-processed food items. Ultra-processed foods include packaged baked goods and snacks, fizzy drinks, sugary cereals, and ready-to-eat or -heat products. They often contain colours, emulsifiers, flavours, and other additives and are typically high in energy, added sugar, saturated fat, and salt, but lack vitamins and fibre. In February this year, a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine highlighted the impact of consuming ultra-processed foods. The study titled 'Premature Mortality Attributable to Ultraprocessed Food Consumption in 8 Countries' inferred that ultra-processed food consumption contributes to increased risk of all-cause mortality, with 2.7% corresponding rise in risk with each 10% increase in UPF contribution to total energy intake. The paper also said that although ultra-processed food consumption remains lower in low- and middle-income countries, there is evidence that the exposure and adherence to an ultra-processed dietary pattern has increased significantly over the last decades. The evidence before us is more than sufficient to warn us where we are headed; and why this move by CBSE is timely. 'There is a clear link between the rise in diabetes cases among children and the easy availability of sugary snacks, soft drinks, and processed foods within school environments,' CBSE said in a letter to school principals. There is no denying that awareness needs to start during the formative years; and arming children with adequate information will surely have a desired impact not only in the form of changes they will make to their lifestyle but also among their families in general. We do need to catch them young, if we want our adults, and future generations, to be healthy.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Having This Condition Is Linked to a 99% Higher Stroke Risk
Here's a stat you may not have seen coming: One in four women experiences a stroke after the age of 25. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 women in the United States will experience a stroke between the ages of 55 and 75. These numbers are scary, but the good news is that 80% of strokes are preventable. One way to prevent them? Manage the risk factors that contribute to heart health and stroke risk, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 Adding to the list is another risk factor that, if left unmanaged, was found to increase stroke risk by an astonishing 99%. The results were reported in a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Related: Researchers observed a link between unmanaged Type 2 diabetes and worsening heart health. Women who were not treating their Type 2 diabetes or were undiagnosed experienced an 83% higher risk of coronary heart disease and an 86% higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The most surprising finding, however, was the 99% higher risk of stroke. 'The differences between women and men in relation to Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk are astounding," says , a diabetes epidemiologist at the Tulane University School of Medicine who served as lead author of the study. The study authors reached this conclusion after examining the heart health risks of 18,745 women and men, with an average age of 58. About 45% had prediabetes and 7% had undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. Regardless of sex, having undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes raised the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the risk was significantly stronger in women than in men. "Our findings can be partly explained by biological differences, which include women being more insulin sensitive than men. We advise doctors to be mindful of the different risks women and men face, to ensure the appropriate care is provided.' According to the CDC, Type 2 diabetes raises stroke risk because sugars accumulate in the blood, blocking oxygen and nutrients from reaching the brain. Related: The risk of stroke rises with age, doubling every 10 years after age 55. Along with talking to your doctor about Type 2 diabetes, you can further reduce the risk of stroke by: Maintaining a healthy weight Getting regular physical activity Avoiding smoking Limiting alcohol beverages to one per day Monitoring and managing cholesterol levels Monitoring and managing high blood pressure Regularly taking any prescribed medication for heart disease Up Next:The Impact of Sex and Gender on Stroke. Circulation Research by Elsevier. About Women and Stroke. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital Signs: Preventing Stroke Deaths. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Prediabetes and Undiagnosed Diabetes. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Yilin Yoshida, Ph.D, MPH, is a diabetes epidemiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Tulane University School of Medicine. Aging and Ischemic Stroke. Aging. Preventing Stroke. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Time Magazine
08-05-2025
- Health
- Time Magazine
Scott LoMurray
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults in the U.S. A peer-led program called Sources of Strength aims to change that—and research suggests it's working. According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in January, the program's model reduces suicide attempts among high-school students by 29%. 'It's a really rare bright spot in the field of suicide prevention and the field of youth mental health,' says Scott LoMurray, CEO of Sources of Strength. Instead of a reactive response, or springing into crisis mode after tragedy strikes, 'Our vision is to empower a well world. We really feel like wellness is the goal, health is the goal, and then prevention is an outcome of that.' Sources of Strength partners with hundreds of elementary, middle, and high schools across the U.S.; the programming looks slightly different depending on students' age. In secondary schools, peer leaders are trained to help their fellow students build resilience, foster social ties with one another, and increase protective factors by, for example, participating in activities like journaling, exercising, and reading. 'Our students aren't junior psychologists who are just supposed to solve and fix all of their friends' problems,' LoMurray says. 'They're connectors who help when they see that somebody's struggling.' If a peer leader sees that a classmate has become more withdrawn, for example, they might check in and tell them what they've noticed, and ask what's going on in a caring way. In addition to learning how to have those conversations and offer support, teens are trained on how to intervene even earlier, to prevent people from getting to that dark place. 'As a field, we spend a lot of time talking about the leading causes of death,' LoMurray says. 'We're really trying to spend energy cultivating the leading causes of life.'
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ultra-processed foods linked to rising premature deaths: Study reveals shocking details
A study analyzing data from nationally representative dietary surveys and mortality data from eight countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, United Kingdom, and United States) shows that premature deaths attributable to consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) increase significantly according to their share in individuals' total energy intake. Also read | Are ultraprocessed foods hurting your health? Experts weigh in on risks and solutions The new study, appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, reinforces the call for global action to reduce UPF consumption, supported by regulatory and fiscal policies that foster healthier environments. UPFs are ready-to-eat-or-heat industrial formulations that are made with ingredients extracted from foods or synthesised in laboratories, with little or no whole foods in their composition. These have gradually been replacing traditional foods and meals made from fresh and minimally processed ingredients. Lead investigator of the study, Eduardo Augusto Fernandes Nilson, DSc, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Brazil, says, "UPFs affect health beyond the individual impact of high content of critical nutrients (sodium, trans fats, and sugar) because of the changes in the foods during industrial processing and the use of artificial ingredients, including colorants, artificial flavors and sweeteners, emulsifiers, and many other additives and processing aids, so assessing deaths from all-causes associated with UPF consumption allows an overall estimate of the effect of industrial food processing on health." Also read | Can ultra-processed foods raise cancer risk? Doctor explains the dangers While previous studies focused on specific dietary risk factors instead of food patterns, the current study modeled data from nationally representative dietary surveys and mortality data from eight countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, United Kingdom, and United States) to link dietary patterns, considering the extent and purpose of industrial food processing, to deaths from all causes. High consumption of UPFs has been associated with 32 different diseases, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, some types of cancer, and depression. For the first time, this study has estimated the burden of UPF intake on premature deaths from all causes in different countries, showing that the attributable mortality is significant in all settings and that addressing UPF consumption should be a global public nutrition priority. Also read | The problematic American diet: Study reveals how ultra-processed foods are taking over the plates Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
