Three in four north Indians consumed ultra-processed foods daily: Study

A new research has revealed a high prevalence of ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption among South Asians, with India emerging as a key area of concern. According to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, nearly three-quarters of adults surveyed in North India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka reported consuming UPFs in the 24 hours preceding the survey.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (Chennai), and public health institutes in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, analysed dietary data from over 60,700 adults across the region as part of the South Asia Biobank initiative.

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In India, stark regional differences were observed: while 75% of respondents in northern India reported consuming ultra-processed foods, only 41% of participants in the south exhibited a similar intake. Commonly consumed items included packaged salty snacks in South India and biscuits across all regions. Sweetened beverages were especially popular in Pakistan, while breakfast cereals dominated in Bangladesh.

Ultra-processed foods are industrially manufactured products that typically contain additives like preservatives, emulsifiers, and added sugars. Regular consumption is linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

The study also found that women were more likely to consume ultra-processed foods across most regions. In Pakistan and Sri Lanka, younger individuals showed higher consumption, while in Bangladesh and northern India, older age groups showed maximum intake of ultra-processed foods. Compared to singles, married people and those living with a partner were less likely to consume junk.

“This is the first population-level study using individual dietary recall data to examine ultra-processed food consumption in South Asia,” said researchers, adding that such insights are essential to design targeted interventions addressing the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in the region.