Pregnant women in a Boston study ate highly processed foods about 1.91 times per day on average, according to research reviewed by Gram. Intake was lower among women with gestational diabetes and former smokers, but higher among those with chronic hypertension. The study of 96 women cannot prove cause, but it suggests nutrition counseling may help.
A Gram Research analysis of a 2026 study from Boston found that pregnant women ate highly processed foods, such as packaged snacks and fast food, about 1.91 times per day on average. The study, published in Nursing Research, looked at 96 women who gave birth at a large city hospital between 2019 and 2021. Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a type of blood sugar problem that develops during pregnancy, reported eating fewer of these foods than women without diabetes. Women who used to smoke also reported eating less processed food than women who had never smoked. Women with chronic high blood pressure reported eating more. Eating patterns also appeared to vary by race, but those differences were not statistically clear. Because the study was small and asked about recent eating habits after delivery, it cannot prove cause and effect. The authors suggest that nurses and doctors could discuss processed food intake as part of routine pregnancy nutrition advice.
Key Statistics
A 2026 retrospective study of 96 pregnant women in Boston, published in Nursing Research, found that participants ate highly processed foods an average of 1.91 times per day.
In the same 2026 study of 96 women, those diagnosed with gestational diabetes consumed significantly fewer highly processed foods than women without diabetes.
The 2026 study also found that women with chronic hypertension ate significantly more highly processed foods than women without a hypertensive disorder.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Researchers wanted to know how often pregnant women eat highly processed foods, such as packaged snacks, sugary drinks, and fast food, and whether this eating pattern is linked to a woman’s background, health conditions, or pregnancy outcomes.
- Who participated: The study included 96 women who delivered babies at a large hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, between January 2019 and August 2021. Most participants were White, had private health insurance, and were not Hispanic or Latina.
- Key finding: On average, participants ate highly processed foods about 1.91 times per day. Women with gestational diabetes and former smokers ate significantly fewer of these foods, while women with chronic high blood pressure ate significantly more. Differences by race were seen but were not statistically clear.
- What it means for you: If you are pregnant, the study suggests that cutting back on highly processed foods may be worth discussing with your care team. Because the study was small and only looked at one hospital, these results should be treated as a starting point rather than a firm rule.
The Research Details
This was a retrospective observational study, which means researchers looked back at information that had already been collected rather than assigning women to specific diets. The women’s health records provided details such as age, race, insurance type, smoking history, and pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.
To measure diet, participants completed a short questionnaire called the Dietary Screener Questionnaire. It asked about the foods they had eaten over the previous 30 days, and researchers used those answers to estimate how often each woman ate highly processed foods. These foods are products that have been changed significantly from their original form and often contain added sugars, salt, or fats.
Researchers first described the group using simple summary numbers. They then used statistical tools called regression models to check whether processed food intake was linked to background factors or pregnancy outcomes. A regression model is a method for seeing whether two things move together while accounting for other factors that might also play a role.
Looking at existing health records is a practical way to learn what is happening in real hospital settings without the cost and time of a large trial. It can reveal patterns worth studying further, especially in groups that are rarely included in nutrition research, such as pregnant women.
The short questionnaire also shows that a quick screening tool could be used during routine prenatal visits. This makes the approach useful for clinicians who want to identify patients who may benefit from nutrition counseling without adding a lot of time to appointments.
However, because the study looked at past eating habits at one point in time, it can show that certain groups eat differently but cannot show whether processed food causes changes in health.
The study has several strengths. It used a standardized diet questionnaire and collected information from hospital records, which helps reduce guesswork. Its results were analyzed with established statistical methods, and the authors clearly reported which findings were statistically significant.
There are also important limitations to keep in mind. The sample was small, with only 96 women, and it came from a single hospital in one city. Most participants were White and had private insurance, so the results may not represent pregnant women from other backgrounds or regions. Diet was also self-reported, which means people may remember or describe their eating habits imperfectly.
Because this is a single observational study that has not yet been repeated in larger groups, its findings should be viewed as early evidence rather than settled fact.
What the Results Show
The most common result was that pregnant participants ate highly processed foods about 1.91 times per day on average. This suggests that processed foods were a regular part of daily eating for this group, even though the study did not measure the exact amount in each serving.
The study found a trend toward lower processed food intake among Black and Asian participants compared with White participants. A trend means the numbers pointed in that direction, but the difference was not large enough to be considered statistically reliable. Researchers therefore cannot say whether race itself, or other factors linked to race such as income or access to food, played a role.
Some clearer patterns emerged for health conditions. Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes ate significantly fewer highly processed foods than women without diabetes. Women with chronic hypertension, a long-term condition involving high blood pressure, ate significantly more highly processed foods than women without a high blood pressure disorder. The study also found that former smokers ate fewer of these foods than women who had never smoked.
The authors reported that no other significant relationships were found beyond these specific groups. This means that many other comparisons the researchers examined did not show clear links to processed food intake.
Beyond the main comparisons, the study showed that highly processed foods are a common part of the diet for many pregnant women in this group. This matters because diet quality during pregnancy can affect both the mother and the baby, and processed foods are often lower in fiber and nutrients.
The finding that women with gestational diabetes ate less processed food may seem surprising at first. It could reflect changes women made after receiving a diagnosis, such as adjusting their diet on medical advice. It may also reflect other differences between the groups that the study did not fully measure.
The pattern among women with chronic hypertension suggests that some pregnant women with existing health concerns may still have diets that could be improved. This points to a possible opportunity for targeted nutrition support.
Research outside pregnancy has repeatedly linked high intake of highly processed foods to a higher risk of conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. This study adds to that body of work by focusing on a group that is often overlooked in nutrition research: pregnant women.
Previous studies have also shown that diet during pregnancy plays a role in outcomes for both mother and baby. This study builds on that idea by exploring how processed food intake varies across social and health characteristics, which had been poorly understood in pregnant populations.
Still, the findings fit only partly with broader evidence. Larger studies with more diverse participants would be needed to confirm these patterns and to see whether they hold true in other communities.
The study had a small sample of 96 women from one hospital in Boston. Results from such a group may not apply to pregnant women in other cities, other countries, or other types of healthcare settings.
Most participants were White, privately insured, and not Hispanic or Latina. Because of this, the study could not clearly show how processed food habits differ across diverse groups, and the racial trends it noticed were not statistically reliable.
The study relied on a questionnaire about the previous 30 days, which can be affected by memory and by how people describe their own eating. It also looked at a single point in time, so it cannot show how diet changed over the course of pregnancy or whether eating habits caused the health outcomes observed.
The Bottom Line
Pregnant individuals and their care teams may consider discussing processed food intake as part of routine nutrition planning. This recommendation has low to moderate confidence because it is based on a small, single-site observational study rather than a large trial.
Using a brief diet screening questionnaire during prenatal visits is a low-cost step that the study authors suggest. Confidence in this idea is moderate, since screening is simple to use, but its ability to reduce processed food intake has not been directly tested in this study.
No one should stop or change prescribed medical care based on these findings. Any dietary changes during pregnancy should be made in consultation with a doctor, midwife, or registered dietitian.
Pregnant women, people planning a pregnancy, nurses, obstetric clinicians, and dietitians may find these findings useful for understanding how processed food fits into prenatal nutrition. Women with gestational diabetes or chronic high blood pressure may especially benefit from a conversation with their care team about diet.
Those who are not pregnant may find the general message helpful, but this study does not directly address diet for people outside of pregnancy. Anyone with specific medical conditions should follow the guidance of their own healthcare provider rather than applying these results on their own.
Changes in eating habits can begin within days or weeks, but this study did not track how long it took for participants to change their diets or how those changes affected pregnancy outcomes. Benefits to blood sugar, blood pressure, and overall nutrition may take several weeks to show up on routine medical tests.
Because pregnancy lasts about nine months, it is reasonable to make gradual changes over time rather than trying to overhaul your diet all at once. Your care team can help you set realistic goals and track progress at regular appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do pregnant women eat highly processed foods?
In a 2026 Boston study of 96 pregnant women, participants ate highly processed foods an average of 1.91 times per day, based on a questionnaire covering the previous 30 days. Because the study looked at past habits, it does not show how intake changed across the full pregnancy.
Do pregnant women with gestational diabetes eat less processed food?
In this study, women diagnosed with gestational diabetes reported eating significantly fewer highly processed foods than women without diabetes. The finding comes from a small group of 96 women, so it does not explain why this pattern occurred or whether diet caused the difference.
Does smoking history affect processed food eating during pregnancy?
Former smokers in this study ate significantly fewer highly processed foods than women who had never smoked. Researchers did not fully explain this difference, and the study of 96 Boston women cannot prove cause. Nutrition counseling during pregnancy may still help all patients reduce processed food intake.
Can nurses help pregnant women eat less processed food?
The study authors suggest that nurses and obstetric clinicians consider expanding pregnancy nutrition counseling, including a short diet screening questionnaire, to help reduce processed food intake. This recommendation comes from a small observational study, so more research across diverse groups is needed before it becomes standard care.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log the number of highly processed food servings you eat each day, such as packaged snacks, sugary drinks, and fast food meals. Aim to review your weekly total and compare it with your baseline from the first week of tracking.
- Try replacing one highly processed snack per day with a simple option, such as fresh fruit, plain yogurt, or a handful of nuts, and log the swap in the app. Start small, and increase the number of swaps as you become comfortable.
- Track processed food intake weekly throughout pregnancy and share summaries with your prenatal care team at scheduled visits. Use the app’s trend view to notice patterns, such as higher intake on stressful days, and discuss any concerns with your clinician.
This article summarizes a single small observational study of 96 pregnant women from one hospital in Boston. It cannot establish cause and effect and does not replace personalized medical advice. Pregnant individuals should talk with their doctor, midwife, or registered dietitian before making any changes to their diet, especially if they have gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or other health conditions.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.