Researchers looked at what Italians ate over 15 years to see if their diets were getting healthier or unhealthier. They compared food choices from 2005-2006 with 2018-2020 and found some surprising results: while ultra-processed foods (like packaged snacks and fast food) only make up 6% of the weight of what people eat, they provide almost a quarter of the calories people consume. Older adults, especially women, made healthier food choices than younger adults and men. Overall, the study shows that Italian diets have gotten slightly worse over time, with more ultra-processed foods sneaking into meals.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How the quality of Italian diets changed between 2005-2006 and 2018-2020, focusing on whether people followed healthy eating guidelines and how much ultra-processed food they consumed.
  • Who participated: The study looked at food consumption data from 726 adults (ages 18-64) and 156 older adults (ages 65-74) in the more recent time period, comparing it to data from 2,313 adults and 290 older adults from 15 years earlier.
  • Key finding: Ultra-processed foods now provide almost 23% of the calories Italians eat, even though they only make up 6% of the weight of food consumed. This nearly doubled from 2005-2006. Older adults, particularly women, ate healthier diets than younger adults and men.
  • What it means for you: If you’re Italian or follow a similar diet pattern, you may be eating more ultra-processed foods than you realize, and these foods are contributing significantly more calories to your diet than their portion size suggests. This suggests paying closer attention to food labels and choosing less processed options when possible.

The Research Details

Researchers used food consumption data collected across Italy at two different time periods: 2005-2006 and 2018-2020. They looked at what people reported eating and organized this information by age groups and gender. To measure diet quality, they used two scoring systems: one that checks how well people follow Italian dietary guidelines, and another that measures how sustainable and healthy diets are. They also calculated how much ultra-processed food (food that’s heavily manufactured with added ingredients) people were eating compared to minimally processed foods.

The study compared the same types of measurements across both time periods to see what changed over the 15 years. They separated the analysis for younger adults and older adults because eating patterns can be very different between age groups.

This research approach is important because it shows real-world eating patterns over a long time period rather than just asking people what they think they eat. By using two different scoring systems, the researchers could get a complete picture of diet quality. Tracking ultra-processed food separately is especially valuable because these foods can be deceptive—they might seem like a small part of your diet by weight, but they can contribute a huge amount of calories.

This study has several strengths: it uses actual food consumption data from a large database rather than relying on people’s memory, it covers a 15-year period which shows real trends, and it separates results by age and gender to show different patterns. However, the number of older adults studied was relatively small (290 and 156), which means conclusions about elderly people should be viewed with some caution. The study also relies on data that was collected for other purposes, so it’s limited to the foods that were tracked in those databases.

What the Results Show

The study found that Italian diet quality scores were only about 50% of what they should ideally be, meaning there’s lots of room for improvement. Between 2005-2006 and 2018-2020, the diet quality got slightly worse for younger adults (scores dropped by about 6%) but slightly better for older adults (scores improved by about 6%). This suggests that younger people are making less healthy food choices over time, while older people are actually improving their diets.

The most striking finding was about ultra-processed foods. Even though these foods only made up 6% of the total weight of food eaten in 2018-2020, they provided 23% of all the calories people consumed. This is nearly double the percentage from 2005-2006. In contrast, regular processed foods (like canned vegetables or whole grain bread) actually decreased in consumption, but they still provided about 28% of calories.

Women, especially older women, had better diet quality scores than men. Older adults in general ate more healthily than younger adults. The data suggests that as people age, they tend to make better food choices, but younger generations are moving in the opposite direction.

The research revealed that current dietary guidelines may not be capturing the full picture of diet quality because they don’t specifically distinguish between ultra-processed foods and minimally processed foods. This is important because a food can technically follow guidelines while still being heavily processed and calorie-dense. The study also showed distinct gender differences, with men having notably lower diet quality scores than women across both age groups.

This study fits with other research showing that ultra-processed foods are becoming a bigger part of diets worldwide, not just in Italy. Previous studies have shown that ultra-processed foods are linked to weight gain and health problems, so the finding that they’re providing more calories despite being a small portion by weight aligns with concerns from other researchers. The finding that older adults eat better than younger adults is also consistent with other studies showing that younger generations are consuming more processed foods.

The study only looked at Italy, so results may not apply to other countries with different food systems. The number of older adults studied was relatively small, which means conclusions about people over 65 are less certain than conclusions about younger adults. The data comes from food consumption surveys, which may not perfectly reflect what people actually eat. The study couldn’t determine why eating patterns changed—it only shows that they did change. Finally, the study doesn’t include information about portion sizes or actual eating occasions, only the types of foods consumed.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, it’s recommended that people, especially younger adults, become more aware of ultra-processed foods in their diet and try to replace them with minimally processed options like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unprocessed proteins. This is a moderate-confidence recommendation because while the data clearly shows ultra-processed foods are increasing and contributing more calories, individual health outcomes depend on many factors. People should also pay attention to food labels and the ingredient lists, not just portion sizes, because ultra-processed foods pack a lot of calories into small amounts.

This research is most relevant for younger adults (18-50 years old) who appear to be eating increasingly unhealthy diets according to the study. Parents and educators should care about this because it suggests younger generations need better nutrition education. Healthcare providers should be aware of these trends when counseling patients about diet. Older adults, particularly women, can feel encouraged that their eating habits are generally healthier. People living in Italy or following Mediterranean-style diets should pay special attention to these findings.

If you start reducing ultra-processed foods and replacing them with whole foods, you might notice increased energy levels within 2-4 weeks. More significant health benefits like improved digestion, better weight management, or improved blood sugar control typically take 8-12 weeks to become noticeable. Long-term benefits like reduced disease risk develop over months and years of consistent healthy eating.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track the percentage of calories from ultra-processed foods daily by logging meals and noting which foods are heavily packaged or manufactured. Aim to reduce this from the current average of 23% to below 15% over three months.
  • Start by identifying your top three ultra-processed foods and finding whole-food alternatives. For example, replace packaged snacks with fresh fruit, swap sugary cereals for oatmeal, or choose grilled chicken instead of processed deli meat. Make one swap per week to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
  • Weekly check-ins to review which ultra-processed foods you consumed and identify patterns. Monthly progress tracking to see if your percentage of calories from ultra-processed foods is decreasing. Use photos of meals to visually track how your plate composition is changing toward more whole foods.

This study describes trends in Italian food consumption and diet quality but does not prove that ultra-processed foods directly cause health problems in individuals. Individual dietary needs vary based on age, health conditions, medications, and personal goals. Before making significant changes to your diet, especially if you have existing health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or food allergies, consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian. This research should not be used as a substitute for professional medical or nutritional advice.