City Research Online

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption varies with socioeconomic status (SES) in adults and evidence suggests that similar patterns exist in adolescents. However, the relationship remains understudied in this critical developmental group. This study aimed to further characterize adolescent UPF consumption and its relationship with SES by exploring dietary patterns within UPF consumption.

DESIGN
Using food-diary data, adolescents' UPF intake was quantified and categorized. Principal component and clustering analysis were used to identify dietary patterns. Associations of these dietary patterns with sociodemographic characteristics were then analysed.

SETTING
Pooled data from the rolling, cross-sectional National Diet and Nutrition Survey, waves 1-to-11 (2008-2019).

SUBJECTS
UK adolescents (11-to-18-year-olds) (n=3199).

RESULTS
Three UPF dietary patterns were identified: (i) the "Restrictive" pattern, which included the lowest total consumption of UPFs (95%CI: 33.1-34.9% g/day), but elevated consumption of UPFs often perceived as healthy, was associated with adolescents of a higher SES; (ii) the "Permissive" pattern included 61.6% g/day (95%CI: 60.3-63.0% g/day) total UPF, dominated by "ready-to-eat," low nutrient-density UPFs, and was associated with adolescents of a lower SES; and (iii) the "Traditional" pattern had moderate consumption of total UPF (95% CI: 47.6-50.9% g/day) with higher intake of UPFs used in home-cooking and had less distinct associations with SES.

CONCLUSION
Results suggest that SES impacts both the amount and type of UPF consumed by adolescents in the UK, underscoring the importance of this factor when designing interventions. Distinct dietary patterns within adolescents' high UPF diets have potential behavioural, nutritional, and health implications.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited. © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Global, Public & Population Health & Policy
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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