Excess Intake of Ultraprocessed Foods Tied to Higher Cardiometabolic Risk: Daily Dose

Patient Care brings primary care clinicians a lot of medical news every day—it’s easy to miss an important study. The Daily Dose provides a concise summary of one of the website's leading stories you may not have seen.

On August 8, 2025, we reported on a science advisory published in Circulation that reviewed current evidence on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) and their impact on cardiometabolic health.

The study

The advisory’s 10-member writing committee reviewed an umbrella survey of epidemiological meta-analyses and a separate dose-response meta-analysis that together encompassed dozens of prospective cohort studies drawn from diverse populations. Evidence strength was graded as “convincing” for cardiovascular mortality, “highly suggestive” for diabetes and obesity, and “suggestive” for non-fatal cardiovascular disease.

The findings

Across those cohorts, cardiometabolic risk began to climb once UPFs provided more than 10% to 15% of total energy—roughly 2 standard servings per day for most adults—suggesting a practical clinical threshold for dietary counseling.

Mechanistic data cited in the report point beyond excess calories: a controlled-feeding experiment showed that the common emulsifier carboxymethylcellulose altered the gut microbiota and metabolome, while high-heat processing and food-grade plastics introduce compounds such as acrylamide, bisphenols and phthalates, all linked to inflammation and vascular injury. Possible pathways summarized in the advisory include displacement of nutrient-rich foods, hyper-palatability that drives over-eating, endocrine disruption and microbiome-mediated metabolic effects.

Authors' comments

"Food policy reform must consider the broader goals of the food system, including nutrition security, safety, and sustainability. Nonetheless, robust evidence and historical precedent support increased regulation of UPFs. Although transformation of the food system is complex, it is achievable."

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