Ultra-processed food consumption patterns among older adults in the Netherlands and the role of the food environment

Maria Gabriela M Pinho; Jeroen Lakerveld; Marjolein C Harbers; Ivonne Sluijs; Roel Vermeulen; Anke Huss; Jolanda M A Boer; W M Monique Verschuren; Johannes Brug; Joline W J Beulens; Joreintje D Mackenbach

doi:10.1007/s00394-020-02436-5

Ultra-processed food consumption patterns among older adults in the Netherlands and the role of the food environment

Maria Gabriela M Pinho
, Jeroen Lakerveld
, Marjolein C Harbers
, Ivonne Sluijs
, Roel Vermeulen
, Anke Huss
, Jolanda M A Boer
, W M Monique Verschuren
, Johannes Brug
, Joline W J Beulens
, Joreintje D Mackenbach

IRAS OH Epidemiology Chemical Agents

Department of Medical Informatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht
Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe the patterns of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption in the Netherlands; to test if exposure to the food environment is associated with UPFs consumption; and if this association differed across educational levels and neighbourhood urbanisation.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study using 2015-data of 8104 older adults from the Dutch EPIC cohort. Proportion of UPFs consumption was calculated from a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Exposure to the food environment was defined as proximity and availability of supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, full-service restaurants, convenience stores, candy stores and cafés. Consumption of UPFs was expressed as both percentage of total grams and total kilocalories.

RESULTS: The study population was aged 70(± 10 SD) years and 80.5% was female. Average UPFs consumption was 17.8% of total food intake in grams and 37% of total energy intake. Those who consumed greater amounts of UPFs had a poorer overall diet quality. Adjusted linear regression models showed that closer proximity and larger availability to any type of food retailer was associated with lower UPFs consumption (both in grams and kilocalories). Somewhat stronger significant associations were found for proximity to restaurants (β = - 1.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = - 2.6; - 0.6), and supermarkets (β = - 2.2%, 95%CI = - 3.3; - 1.1); i.e., Individuals living within 500 m from the closest supermarket, as compared to 1500 m, had 2.6% less calories from UPFs. No differences were found on analyses stratified for urbanisation and education.

CONCLUSIONS: Using various measures of exposure to the food environment, we found that exposure to restaurants and supermarkets was associated with somewhat lower consumption of UPFs.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2567–2580
Number of pages	14
Journal	European Journal of Nutrition
Volume	60
Issue number	5
Early online date	24 Nov 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02436-5
Publication status	Published - Aug 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The EPIC-NL study was funded by the European Commission in the scope of the ‘Europe against Cancer’ Programme (DG SANCO); by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS); by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW); and by the World Cancer Research Fund; JDM’s work was funded by an NWO VENI grant on “Making the healthy choice easier—role of the local food environment” (Grant Number 451-17-032). M.G.M.P. work was funded by the Brazilian higher education agency CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) as part of the Science Without Borders Program, Process number 233850/2014-7.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).

Keywords

Community food environment
Dietary habits
Food retailers
Obesogenic environment
Older adults
Ultra-processed food

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Pinho, M. G. M., Lakerveld, J., Harbers, M. C., Sluijs, I., Vermeulen, R., Huss, A., Boer, J. M. A., Verschuren, W. M. M., Brug, J., Beulens, J. W. J., & Mackenbach, J. D. (2021). Ultra-processed food consumption patterns among older adults in the Netherlands and the role of the food environment. European Journal of Nutrition, 60(5), 2567–2580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02436-5

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title = "Ultra-processed food consumption patterns among older adults in the Netherlands and the role of the food environment",

abstract = "PURPOSE: To describe the patterns of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption in the Netherlands; to test if exposure to the food environment is associated with UPFs consumption; and if this association differed across educational levels and neighbourhood urbanisation.METHODS: Cross-sectional study using 2015-data of 8104 older adults from the Dutch EPIC cohort. Proportion of UPFs consumption was calculated from a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Exposure to the food environment was defined as proximity and availability of supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, full-service restaurants, convenience stores, candy stores and caf{\'e}s. Consumption of UPFs was expressed as both percentage of total grams and total kilocalories.RESULTS: The study population was aged 70(± 10 SD) years and 80.5\% was female. Average UPFs consumption was 17.8\% of total food intake in grams and 37\% of total energy intake. Those who consumed greater amounts of UPFs had a poorer overall diet quality. Adjusted linear regression models showed that closer proximity and larger availability to any type of food retailer was associated with lower UPFs consumption (both in grams and kilocalories). Somewhat stronger significant associations were found for proximity to restaurants (β = - 1.6\%, 95\% confidence interval (CI) = - 2.6; - 0.6), and supermarkets (β = - 2.2\%, 95\%CI = - 3.3; - 1.1); i.e., Individuals living within 500 m from the closest supermarket, as compared to 1500 m, had 2.6\% less calories from UPFs. No differences were found on analyses stratified for urbanisation and education.CONCLUSIONS: Using various measures of exposure to the food environment, we found that exposure to restaurants and supermarkets was associated with somewhat lower consumption of UPFs.",

keywords = "Community food environment, Dietary habits, Food retailers, Obesogenic environment, Older adults, Ultra-processed food",

author = "Pinho, \{Maria Gabriela M\} and Jeroen Lakerveld and Harbers, \{Marjolein C\} and Ivonne Sluijs and Roel Vermeulen and Anke Huss and Boer, \{Jolanda M A\} and Verschuren, \{W M Monique\} and Johannes Brug and Beulens, \{Joline W J\} and Mackenbach, \{Joreintje D\}",

note = "Funding Information: The EPIC-NL study was funded by the European Commission in the scope of the {\textquoteleft}Europe against Cancer{\textquoteright} Programme (DG SANCO); by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS); by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW); and by the World Cancer Research Fund; JDM{\textquoteright}s work was funded by an NWO VENI grant on “Making the healthy choice easier—role of the local food environment” (Grant Number 451-17-032). M.G.M.P. work was funded by the Brazilian higher education agency CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) as part of the Science Without Borders Program, Process number 233850/2014-7. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020, The Author(s).",

year = "2021",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1007/s00394-020-02436-5",

language = "English",

volume = "60",

pages = "2567–2580",

journal = "European Journal of Nutrition",

issn = "1436-6207",

publisher = "Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH",

number = "5",

}

Pinho, MGM, Lakerveld, J, Harbers, MC, Sluijs, I, Vermeulen, R , Huss, A, Boer, JMA, Verschuren, WMM, Brug, J, Beulens, JWJ & Mackenbach, JD 2021, 'Ultra-processed food consumption patterns among older adults in the Netherlands and the role of the food environment', European Journal of Nutrition, vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 2567–2580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02436-5

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ultra-processed food consumption patterns among older adults in the Netherlands and the role of the food environment

AU - Pinho, Maria Gabriela M

AU - Lakerveld, Jeroen

AU - Harbers, Marjolein C

AU - Sluijs, Ivonne

AU - Vermeulen, Roel

AU - Huss, Anke

AU - Boer, Jolanda M A

AU - Verschuren, W M Monique

AU - Brug, Johannes

AU - Beulens, Joline W J

AU - Mackenbach, Joreintje D

N1 - Funding Information: The EPIC-NL study was funded by the European Commission in the scope of the ‘Europe against Cancer’ Programme (DG SANCO); by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS); by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW); and by the World Cancer Research Fund; JDM’s work was funded by an NWO VENI grant on “Making the healthy choice easier—role of the local food environment” (Grant Number 451-17-032). M.G.M.P. work was funded by the Brazilian higher education agency CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) as part of the Science Without Borders Program, Process number 233850/2014-7. Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s).

PY - 2021/8

Y1 - 2021/8

N2 - PURPOSE: To describe the patterns of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption in the Netherlands; to test if exposure to the food environment is associated with UPFs consumption; and if this association differed across educational levels and neighbourhood urbanisation.METHODS: Cross-sectional study using 2015-data of 8104 older adults from the Dutch EPIC cohort. Proportion of UPFs consumption was calculated from a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Exposure to the food environment was defined as proximity and availability of supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, full-service restaurants, convenience stores, candy stores and cafés. Consumption of UPFs was expressed as both percentage of total grams and total kilocalories.RESULTS: The study population was aged 70(± 10 SD) years and 80.5% was female. Average UPFs consumption was 17.8% of total food intake in grams and 37% of total energy intake. Those who consumed greater amounts of UPFs had a poorer overall diet quality. Adjusted linear regression models showed that closer proximity and larger availability to any type of food retailer was associated with lower UPFs consumption (both in grams and kilocalories). Somewhat stronger significant associations were found for proximity to restaurants (β = - 1.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = - 2.6; - 0.6), and supermarkets (β = - 2.2%, 95%CI = - 3.3; - 1.1); i.e., Individuals living within 500 m from the closest supermarket, as compared to 1500 m, had 2.6% less calories from UPFs. No differences were found on analyses stratified for urbanisation and education.CONCLUSIONS: Using various measures of exposure to the food environment, we found that exposure to restaurants and supermarkets was associated with somewhat lower consumption of UPFs.

AB - PURPOSE: To describe the patterns of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption in the Netherlands; to test if exposure to the food environment is associated with UPFs consumption; and if this association differed across educational levels and neighbourhood urbanisation.METHODS: Cross-sectional study using 2015-data of 8104 older adults from the Dutch EPIC cohort. Proportion of UPFs consumption was calculated from a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Exposure to the food environment was defined as proximity and availability of supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, full-service restaurants, convenience stores, candy stores and cafés. Consumption of UPFs was expressed as both percentage of total grams and total kilocalories.RESULTS: The study population was aged 70(± 10 SD) years and 80.5% was female. Average UPFs consumption was 17.8% of total food intake in grams and 37% of total energy intake. Those who consumed greater amounts of UPFs had a poorer overall diet quality. Adjusted linear regression models showed that closer proximity and larger availability to any type of food retailer was associated with lower UPFs consumption (both in grams and kilocalories). Somewhat stronger significant associations were found for proximity to restaurants (β = - 1.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = - 2.6; - 0.6), and supermarkets (β = - 2.2%, 95%CI = - 3.3; - 1.1); i.e., Individuals living within 500 m from the closest supermarket, as compared to 1500 m, had 2.6% less calories from UPFs. No differences were found on analyses stratified for urbanisation and education.CONCLUSIONS: Using various measures of exposure to the food environment, we found that exposure to restaurants and supermarkets was associated with somewhat lower consumption of UPFs.

KW - Community food environment

KW - Dietary habits

KW - Food retailers

KW - Obesogenic environment

KW - Older adults

KW - Ultra-processed food

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85096582998

U2 - 10.1007/s00394-020-02436-5

DO - 10.1007/s00394-020-02436-5

M3 - Article

C2 - 33236180

SN - 1436-6207

VL - 60

SP - 2567

EP - 2580

JO - European Journal of Nutrition

JF - European Journal of Nutrition

IS - 5

ER -

Ultra-processed food consumption patterns among older adults in the Netherlands and the role of the food environment

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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