South Australian study finds respiratory risk in junk foods

Adelaide research shows an alarming link between popular junk foods and series of common health problems.

Junk food is blamed for all sorts of health ills – now South Australian research shows it is a villain in respiratory diseases.

New research by the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and the University of Adelaide has shown a diet high in ultra-processed foods (UPF) significantly increases the risk of death from chronic respiratory diseases.

The study led by PhD candidate Tefera Mekonnen collected data from more than 96,000 people living in the United States from 1999 to 2018, analysing the impact of heavily processed food consumption on a variety of chronic respiratory diseases.

“We found that participants with a diet consisting of more than 40 per cent UPF had a 26 per cent higher risk of dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a 10 per cent higher overall risk of death from chronic respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma,” Mr Mekonnen said.

“Participants who consumed the largest amount of UPF were typically younger, with a higher BMI and a greater risk of diabetes, emphysema and high blood pressure as well as had lower overall dietary quality.”

Examples of such foods include chips, chocolate, lollies, biscuits, processed meat, fried chicken, soft drinks and ice cream.

Mr Mekonnen said these foods were full of preservatives and additives that got into the bloodstream and may contribute to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, exacerbating respiratory conditions.

The research comes amid calls for a sugar tax, a push for restrictions on junk food advertising and revelations Coca-Cola has quietly increased the sugar content of Fanta by 60 per cent after reducing it during the fierce sugar tax debate.

The study published in the European Journal of Nutrition is one of the most extensive investigations to date on the impact of ultra-processed foods on respiratory health.

Researchers say they wouldn’t expect to find any major differences between the U.S. and other Western countries, including Australia, because the populations follow a similar diet.

“Our research suggests that limiting the intake of ultra-processed foods could significantly improve respiratory health and reduce the risk of mortality from chronic respiratory diseases,” Mr Mekonnen said, adding that further research is needed to explore the precise mechanisms driving the effects of dietary factors on respiratory health in greater detail.