Progress in researches on association of ultra-processed foods with adult overweight and obesity

According to the NOVA classification system based on the extent and purpose of food processing, ultra-processed foods (UPF), modified by a series of complex industrial processing, refer to a group of convenient, ready-to-eat, hyper-palatable foods that add varieties of food additives and generally contain high dose of sugar, salt and fat, and low dose of protein, dietary fiber and micronutrients. In recent years, the global consumption of UPF has increased rapidly; at the same time, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is also growing continuously. Most studies have shown that the increased UPF intake is closely related to adult overweight and obesity; however, the results remain controversial. The purpose of this study is to review the epidemiological studies on the relationship between UPF intake and adult overweight and obesity for providing reference for further research.