Skip to main content

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Int J Public Health
Volume 69 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1607891
This article is part of the Call for papers THE IMPACT OF ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD CONSUMPTION ON HEALTH IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES View all 3 articles

Ultra-processed food is associated with poor diet quality and nutrient intake among adolescents in urban slums, Kenya

Milkah Wanjohi Milkah Wanjohi 1*Gershim Asiki Gershim Asiki 2Calistus Wilunda Calistus Wilunda 2Michelle Holdsworth Michelle Holdsworth 3Rebecca Pradeilles Rebecca Pradeilles 3Linda Simon Paulo Linda Simon Paulo 1Nelson Langat Nelson Langat 2Dickson A Amugsi Dickson A Amugsi 2Simon Kimenju Simon Kimenju 4Elizabeth W Kimani-Murage Elizabeth W Kimani-Murage 2Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch 1
  • 1 Julius Global Health, Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • 2 African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya
  • 3 UMR MoISA (Montpellier Interdisciplinary centre on Sustainable Agri-food systems), (Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD), Montpellier, France
  • 4 Kula Vyema Centre of Food Economics, Kiambu, Kiambu, Kenya

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Objective: To assess the caloric contribution of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), factors associated with UPFs energy intake and association between UPFs energy intake, diet quality and nutrient intake among adolescents in urban slums, Kenya.A cross-sectional household study amongst adolescents (10-19 years, N=621)) collected socio-demographic and dietary intake data. Global-diet-quality-score (GDQS); mean and percentage total energy intake (%TEI) from UPFs; and nutrient intakes were computed.Regression analysis assessed the factors associated with UPFs energy intake, and association between %TEI from UPFs and diet quality.Results: Mean daily energy intake was 1604 kcal (±550), 25.2% from UPFs. Higher leisure screen time (≥ 2 hours/day, (OR=1.9 (1.2-3.1)) was associated with UPFs energy intake.Household wealth index (quintile five (OR =2.6(1.3-6.0)) was associated with non-UPFs energy intake. UPFs (%TEI) was inversely associated with GDQS score (quartile four, (β=-2.9(-3.4 --2.1). Adolescents with high %TEI from UPFs (quartile four) had highest total energy, total fat and saturated fat; and lowest protein, fibre, iron, calcium and zinc intake.UPFs contribute substantially to adolescents' energy intake and are linked to poor diet quality and nutrient intake.

    Keywords: ultra processed foods, Overweight/obesity, double burden of malnutrition, Urban, Kenya

    Received: 23 Aug 2024; Accepted: 26 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wanjohi, Asiki, Wilunda, Holdsworth, Pradeilles, Paulo, Langat, Amugsi, Kimenju, Kimani-Murage and Klipstein-Grobusch. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Milkah Wanjohi, Julius Global Health, Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.