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The effects of ultra-processed foods (comments from Michèle Iskandar and Stéphanie Chevalier)

Published: 16 December 2024

In a recent article, La Presse addressed the question of whether ultra-processed foods increase cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and allergies in children.

Studies exist, Michèle Iskandar, Research Associate at 山ǿ's School of Human Nutrition told La Presse—but they are preliminary.

High consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with ADHD and allergic conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) and asthma, Iskandar said. But most studies that found this link “have not taken into account important factors such as education level, socioeconomic status, or lifestyle variables such as screen time, sleep quality, sedentary lifestyle or physical activity,” she cautioned.

So far, research on ultra-processed foods has failed to demonstrate—beyond a doubt—that they are problematic in and of themselves, according to School of Human Nutrition Professor Stéphanie Chevalier. Since these foods are digested quickly, people who eat a lot of them tend to eat more. So, at the very least, they are harmful because they lead to consuming too many calories, which leads to obesity.

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