ABSTRACT

Ultra-processed foods have been described as “formulations mostly of cheap industrial sources of dietary energy and nutrients plus additives, using a series of processes” and containing minimal whole foods. Ultra-processed foods are formulated and packaged in such a way to make them intensely palatable, have a long shelflife and eliminate the need for culinary preparations. After undergoing multiple physical, biological, and/ or chemical processes, ultra-processed food products are conceived to be microbiologically safe, convenient, highly energetic, palatable and affordable which are contributing factors to change in food consumption patterns and decreased whole food consumption in the family. This study examined the consumption of ultra-processed foods, dietary pattern and anthropometry status among adults in Ugunagbo Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The study was cross sectional and multi stage random sampling techniques was used to select 399 adults in Ugunagbo L.G.A. Data were collected with the use of a well-structured and validated questionnaire to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics, socio-economic characteristics, ultra-processed foods consume, dietary pattern and anthropometric measurements of the respondents. Data obtained was analyzed using Statistical Package Service Software (SPSS) version 20.0. Chi-square was used to test significant relationship in the study and statistical significance was accepted at P<0.05. The result showed that more than half (65.7%) of the respondents were male and 34.3% were female. Majority (86.5%) of the respondents were within the ages of 20-40 years, majority (81.2%) of the respondents were Christian while 18.8% were Muslim and other religious group. More than half (55.4%) of the respondents are of 1-3 household size. 29.1% ofthe respondents had tertiary education, more than half (55.9%) of the respondents were farmers and trader while 38.6% of the respondents earn between N30,000 -N60,000 and 32.8% earn below N30.000. About 40.1% of respondents used firewood as source of cooking fuel. 14.8% ofthe respondents consumed three square meals daily, more than half(52.4%) ofthe respondents don’t skip meals while 50.4% ofthem consume snacks. More than half(58.4%) ofthe respondents rarely consume salted meals, 20.3% ofthe respondents consume cake 2-4 times in a week. The findings also showed that 60.1 % ofthe respondents rarely consume pizza, 43.6% of the respondents consume fries daily More than half (59.6%) of the respondents had a normal weight while 14.3% and 6.6% of the respondents were overweight and obese. The result also showed that there was a significant (p<0.05) relationship between ultraprocessed foods such as soft drink, packaged bread, cakes, chew-gum and sweets, and the body mass index ofthe respondents. Hence, the relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and BMI found in this study revealed that food and nutrient intake mllucnced the nutritional and overall health status of the respondents. Therefore, there should be a provision ol effective nutrition education which would enable the respondents to understand the dangers associated to unhealthy dietary pattern, inappropriate consumption of foods and nutritional status, also to understand the severity and complications attached to regular consumption ol ultra-processed foods.