Adolescents who consume more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have significantly higher odds of being overweight or obese, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke of the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, and colleagues. In the most recent of the analyzed studies, higher UPF consumption was linked with more than twice the odds of overweight or obesity compared to lower UPF consumption.
Being overweight or obese during adolescence raises a person’s likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. The increasing consumption of UPFs—defined as industrial products made largely from extracted, modified, or synthetic ingredients, and typically high in added sugars, salt, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives—represents one of the fastest-growing unhealthy eating patterns among young people worldwide.
In the new study, researchers systematically searched multiple databases for observational studies reporting on UPF consumption and weight outcomes in adolescents aged 10 through 19. They identified 23 eligible studies involving a total of 155,000 adolescents, conducted across 16 countries between 2008 and 2025.
In a meta-analysis of all 23 studies, the researchers found that adolescents with higher UPF consumption had 63% greater odds of overweight or obesity compared with those with lower intake (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.36–1.95). The positive association was consistent across all geographic regions studied, including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Subgroup analysis by year of publication showed that the most recent studies, published in 2024 and 2025, reported the highest odds ratio (OR = 2.09), suggesting the association may be growing stronger as UPF consumption rises globally.
Among other aspects, the study is limited by its reliance on observational designs, which cannot establish causation, and by variation across studies in how UPF consumption and obesity were measured.
The authors conclude that public health strategies should prioritize reducing UPF consumption among adolescents through education, policy interventions, and promotion of minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods.
The authors add: “Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to a substantially increased risk of overweight and obesity among adolescents, emphasizing the need for early dietary interventions.”
“Improving adolescent nutrition today is essential to protecting long-term population health and reducing healthcare costs associated with obesity-related conditions.”
In your coverage, please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS One : https://plos.io/4dSZFeY
Citation: Aweke MN, Abuhay HW, Limenih MA, Alhur AA, Baykemagn ND, Alemu GG, et al. (2026) Ultra-processed food consumption and the risk of overweight and obesity in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 21(4): e0344873. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0344873
Author countries: Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia
Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.
PLOS One
Meta-analysis
People
Ultra-processed food consumption and the risk of overweight and obesity in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis
15-Apr-2026
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.