Food insecurity and impact of UPF in childhood

This study will help us understand whether children who live in families with food insecurity are more likely to eat more ultra-processed foods than families who are food secure.

We have collected information about what children eat over 4 non-consecutive days from parents of children aged 7-11 years in Bradford. In the survey, we have also asked other questions about the background (e.g. ethnicity) of the child and the level of food insecurity that the child experiences within the family.

To measure food insecurity, we have used a 6-question survey helps us figure out whether a household is: (1) Food Secure (no issues with getting enough food), (2) Low Food Security (sometimes worried about food but not severely affected), (3) Very Low Food Security (serious disruptions in food access, like skipping meals or going hungry). We will define ultra-processed foods using the 4 day food diaries and classify all foods and drinks into how much they have been processed in the following categories: (1) Unprocessed or minimally processed (like fresh fruits or veggies), (2) Processed ingredients (like sugar, salt, or oils), (3) Processed foods (like canned vegetables or bread), and (4) Ultra-processed foods (like sugary snacks, fast food, and soft drinks).

For this study, we’ll focus on ultra-processed foods (Group 4), which are often cheap and easy to buy but not very healthy. We will also consider grouping the levels of food insecurity.

To assess the relationship between food insecurity and ultra-processed foods, we will use statistics to see if food insecurity is linked to higher consumption of ultra-processed foods, while considering other factors that may affect food choices and be related to food insecurity, like, age and lifestyle. We will also look at whether food insecurity and eating ultra-processed foods are connected differently for people from different ethnic backgrounds. Cultural factors might influence food choices, so we want to see if the relationship changes based on ethnicity and other community factors.

Bradford council are interested to learn what our research tells us, so that they can consider whether they should target new initiatives or policies in this area.