Ultra-processed Foods: The Silent Threat to Adolescent Health

Abstract

Ultra-processed food consumption among Iranian adolescents has become a serious public health concern. Ultra-processed foods contain high amounts of sugar, unhealthy fats, and additives that threaten the metabolic health of adolescents through various mechanisms including promoting insulin resistance, disrupting lipid profiles, and elevating blood pressure. Concerns about ultra-processed foods increase when we know that we are facing an increasing consumption trend in the coming years. Health policymakers should pay special attention to this concern, as the metabolic complications caused by the consumption of these foods can greatly increase the burden of non-communicable diseases in the future. In this context, this study proposed four policy strategies to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods in adolescents, including "implementing educational programs in schools" as a sustainable solution, "limiting unhealthy food advertising," "warning labeling on products," and "imposing targeted taxes on harmful foods." The interactive implementation of these strategies can help reduce the consumption of these products, facilitating early intervention and comprehensive health planning for the next generation. In this regard, the study emphasizes the need to form a joint special task force between the ministries of health, education, and industry to prevent the burden of non-communicable diseases in the future through inter-sectoral coordination. © 2025, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.