On: Study Finds Ultra-Processed Foods Drive Weight Gain

[johnkpaul]

This paper seems to assume that "ultra-processed" is a previously defined term. Is there an agreed upon definition somewhere?

[jolmg → johnkpaul]

There's a Wikipedia article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-processed_food

That links to a report from a United Nations organization that also uses the term:

http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4690e.pdf

On page 30, there's a section titled "Group 4: Ultra-processed food and drink products" which describes what an ultra-processed food or drink is.

That PDF also has 10 references to papers that use the term in their title.

[wcunning → jolmg]

Wikipedia article linked also says "As of 2018 the concept is loose and evolving" linking to a newer article than the UN report, so why would I think this paper used the UN definition?

The Wikipedia article further goes on to state "The utility of the NOVA classification has been subject to criticism. However, a 2018 publication from the founders of the NOVA classification uncovered misleading and incorrect statements in the critical appraisal, as well as non-disclosed conflicts of interest."

Basically, I don't see a terribly agreed upon definition. Things point several ways, and the GP's concern about definition is entirely valid.

[tchalla → wcunning]

> so why would I think this paper used the UN definition?

Because if you read the paper from the OP link, the authors cite that their definition of ultra-processed food is from Monteiro et al 2008 viz. the same UN definition the OP refers to which is widely agreed upon.