Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Study links ultra-processed foods to children’s brain responses and body fat
Researchers followed 46 children aged 7 to 10 who began the study at a healthy weight.
The children had brain scans while viewing tempting food images, and researchers recorded what they ate and measured their body composition.
Children who ate more ultra-processed foods showed stronger responses in a brain area involved in reward and motivation.
A year later, stronger responses were linked to bigger increases in body mass index and body fat, while children who ate more of these foods also had larger waist measurements.
Accounting for brain responses weakened the links between ultra-processed food intake and body mass index by 31% and body fat by 44%.
The observational study cannot show that these foods caused the changes, and researchers say more research is needed to test cause and effect.
Kathleen Page is planning a follow-up study that will provide meals to children who regularly eat ultra-processed foods.
A yearlong study of 46 children found that those who ate more ultra-processed foods had stronger brain responses to appetizing food images.
The stronger responses were recorded in the dorsal striatum, a brain region involved in reward and motivation.
Children with stronger responses tended to have greater increases in body mass index and body fat percentage over the following year.
Accounting for brain responses weakened the association between ultra-processed food consumption and body mass index by 31% and body fat percentage by 44%.
The observational study shows a possible link but cannot establish that ultra-processed foods cause changes in brain activity or weight.
- Who
- Researchers studied 46 children, ages seven to 10, who began at a healthy weight.
- What
- The study examined links between ultra-processed food consumption, brain responses to food images and changes in body composition.
- When
- The children were assessed at the start of the study and one year later; the findings were reported on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Researchers sought to understand how brain responses to food cues might help explain links between ultra-processed foods and changes in body composition.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers scanned the children’s brains as they viewed appealing food images and collected diet and body composition information.
Researchers measured the children’s body mass index, body fat percentage and waist circumference again.
The study findings were reported in JAMA Network Open.
Infobae and SciTechDaily published articles about the findings.
- Children studied
- 46 children, ages seven to 10
- Study period
- One year
- Brain region
- Dorsal striatum
- BMI association
- Weakened by 31% after accounting for brain responses
- Body fat association
- Weakened by 44% after accounting for brain responses
- U.S. children’s calories from UPFs
- About 67%
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What people are saying
Children’s brains are still developing, habits are still forming, and food preferences are still being made. It’s an important period where the brain is very sensitive to food and the food environment
This study goes beyond just understanding that UPFs affect weight gain. It actually gives us insight into the neurobiological underpinnings by which these foods may be linked to body composition over time.