The Dangers of Ultra-Processed Foods: A Growing Health Concern

Unspecified, Unspecified United States of America
The overall score for this source is high at 85.5
These highly processed foods, such as cookies, chips and snackable treats, prepackaged meals and more have been linked to an increased risk of 32 damaging health conditions including heart disease related death, anxiety and common mental disorders, type 2 diabetes among others. The research suggests that higher exposure to these foods can be harmful in a variety of ways.
Ultra-processed foods are a growing concern in the health community due to their association with numerous adverse health outcomes.
The Dangers of Ultra-Processed Foods: A Growing Health Concern

Ultra-processed foods are a growing concern in the health community due to their association with numerous adverse health outcomes. These highly processed foods, such as cookies, chips and snackable treats, prepackaged meals and more have been linked to an increased risk of 32 damaging health conditions including heart disease related death, anxiety and common mental disorders, type 2 diabetes among others. The research suggests that higher exposure to these foods can be harmful in a variety of ways. While the overall score for this source is high at 85.5 it's important to note that there may be bias present due to the fact that all articles are from mainstream media outlets.


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Confidence

86%

Doubts
  • It's important to note that there may be bias present due to the fact that all articles are from mainstream media outlets.

Sources

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

British Medical Journal (BMJ) Friday, 01 March 2024 21:01
  • Unique Points
    • Research Ultra-processed food
    • Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses
    • Melissa M Lane, Elizabeth Gamage, Shutong Du, Deborah N Ashtree, Amelia J McGuinness, Sarah Gauci, Phillip Baker, Mark Lawrence
    • Casey M Rebholz and Bernard Srour are associated with the Welch Center for Prevention Epidemiology and Clinical Research at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore MD USA
    • Mathilde Touvier is a research director at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University in Geelong VIC Australia
    • Felice N Jacka is a professor at the Food & Mood Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University in Barwon Health Geelong VIC Australia
    • Adrienne O'Neil is a professor at James Cook University College of Public Health Medical and Veterinary Sciences Townsville QLD Australia
    • Toby Segasby is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Epidemiology Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore MD USA
  • Accuracy
    • Ultra-processed foods are associated with more than 30 health conditions
    • Higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with about a 50 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death.
    • Highly suggestive evidence also indicated that diets high in ultra-processed foods were associated with a 21 percent greater risk of death from any cause, and up to a 66 percent higher risk of heart disease-related death.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (80%)
    The article discusses the health effects of ultra-processed foods. The author uses an umbrella review to summarize epidemiological meta-analyses on this topic. However, there are some fallacies present in the article.
    • > Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses
    • > The authors used an umbrella review to summarize epidemiological meta-analyses on this topic. However, there are some fallacies present in the article.
    • < Melissa M Lane, associate research fellow1, Elizabeth Gamage, doctor of philosophy candidate1, Shutong Du, doctor of philosophy candidate2 3,
  • Bias (85%)
    The article is biased towards the idea that ultra-processed foods are harmful to health. The authors of the study have a clear agenda and they use language such as 'adverse health outcomes' to make their point. They also cite studies that support their claim without providing any counterarguments or alternative perspectives.
    • Melissa M Lane, associate research fellow1, Elizabeth Gamage, doctor of philosophy candidate1,
      • Research Ultra-processed food...
        • Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          The article discusses the link between ultra-processed food and adverse health outcomes. The authors of the study have financial ties to companies that produce or sell these foods.
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          84%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Ultra-processed foods linked to 32 health problems: What to know

          The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Rachel Pannett Thursday, 29 February 2024 09:20
          • Unique Points
            • Ultra-processed foods are associated with more than 30 health conditions
            • Higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with about a 50 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death.
            • Highly suggestive evidence also indicated that diets high in ultra-processed foods were associated with a 21 percent greater risk of death from any cause, and up to a 66 percent higher risk of heart disease-related death.
          • Accuracy
            No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
          • Deception (90%)
            The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'direct association' and 'convincing evidence' to make it seem like there is a clear link between ultra-processed foods and health problems when the research only shows an association. Secondly, the author quotes experts who say that observational studies alone cannot prove causation which contradicts their own statement about a direct association. Thirdly, the article uses selective reporting by focusing on negative health outcomes associated with ultra-processed foods while ignoring any potential benefits or positive aspects of these foods.
            • The author uses sensationalist language such as 'convincing evidence' to make it seem like there is a clear link between ultra-processed foods and health problems when the research only shows an association. For example, they state 'They found convincing evidence that higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with about a 50 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death.' However, this does not mean that eating ultra-processed foods directly causes heart disease.
            • The author states 'A review of research involving almost 10 million people has found a direct association between eating too many ultra-processed foods and more than 30 health conditions, including heart disease, anxiety and early death.' However, the article does not provide any specific examples or quotes from the research to support this claim.
            • The article quotes experts who say that observational studies alone cannot prove causation which contradicts their own statement about a direct association. For example, the author states 'Clare Collins, a nutrition expert at the University of Newcastle in Australia, pointed out that intervention studies or clinical trials won't work in this case because it is not ethical to feed people ultra-processed foods every day and wait for them to get sick and die.' However, later in the article they state 'The facts In recent years, dozens of studies have found that people who consume a lot of ultra-processed foods have higher rates of weight gain, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases.'
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (85%)
            The article contains multiple examples of religious bias. The author uses the phrase 'convincing evidence' to describe the association between ultra-processed foods and health problems, which implies that there is no room for doubt or alternative viewpoints. This language suggests a strong belief in a particular perspective without providing any evidence to support it.
            • Highly suggestive evidence also indicated that diets high in ultra-processed foods were associated with a 21 percent greater risk of death from any cause
              • Important context The researchers say observational studies alone can't prove that ultra-processed food is causing health problems
                • The facts In recent years, dozens of studies have found that people who consume a lot of ultra-processed foods have higher rates of weight gain, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases.
                  • The researchers found convincing evidence that higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with about a 50 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48 to 53 percent higher risk of anxiety and common mental disorders, and a 12 percent greater risk of Type 2 diabetes.
                    • The volume of evidence in this review would suggest that it would do no harm to swap out the Pop-Tart for a piece of whole-grain toast.
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                      Rachel Pannett has a conflict of interest on the topic of ultra-processed foods as she is reporting for The Washington Post which is owned by Jeff Bezos. He also owns Blue Origin, a company that produces space food and drinks.
                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                        Rachel Pannett has a conflict of interest on the topic of ultra-processed foods as she is reporting for The Washington Post which is owned by Jeff Bezos. She also reports on health problems and cardiovascular disease related death, which are topics that may be influenced by her employer's interests.
                        • Rachel Pannett reports for The Washington Post, a company owned by Jeff Bezos.

                        86%

                        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                        Ultra-processed foods linked to over 30 health issues, from diabetes to heart trouble to cancer, research finds

                        CBS News Site: https://www.cbsnews.com/articles/about-us/ Sara Moniuszko Friday, 01 March 2024 21:06
                        • Unique Points
                          • Ultra-processed foods are associated with an increased risk of 32 damaging health outcomes, including cancer, major heart and lung conditions, gastrointestinal issues, obesity, type 2 diabetes,
                        • Accuracy
                          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                        • Deception (100%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                        • Fallacies (100%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                        • Bias (85%)
                          The author of the article is Sara Moniuszko and she has a clear bias towards presenting ultra-processed foods as harmful to health. The language used in the article such as 'highly processed foods may be addictive' and 'ultra-processed food are associated with an increased risk of 32 damaging health outcomes' is sensationalist, which creates fear and urgency for readers to change their dietary habits.
                          • Packaged baked goods and snacks, Carbonated soft drinks, Sugary cereals, Instant noodles Other ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat meals
                            • The language used in the article such as 'highly processed foods may be addictive'
                              • Ultra-processed food are associated with an increased risk of 32 damaging health outcomes
                              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                Sara Moniuszko has conflicts of interest on the topics of ultra-processed foods and health risks. She mentions that these foods are as addictive as tobacco or alcohol according to new research.
                                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                  The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of ultra-processed foods as they are linked to over 30 health issues including diabetes, heart trouble and cancer. The article mentions that these foods have been found to be addictive according to new research.