A new comprehensive review shows that ultra-processed foods—like packaged snacks, sugary cereals, and fast food—make up about two-thirds of what American children eat. These foods are loaded with added sugars, unhealthy fats, and salt while missing important nutrients. Researchers found that eating too many of these foods links to childhood obesity, heart problems, liver disease, mental health issues, and damage to the healthy bacteria in kids’ stomachs. The good news? Doctors, schools, families, and policymakers can work together to help kids eat better by offering healthier choices and teaching families about nutrition.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How ultra-processed foods (heavily manufactured foods with lots of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and salt) affect children’s health and what can be done about it
  • Who participated: This review looked at data from many different studies about American children’s eating habits, including information from government health surveys and reports
  • Key finding: About two-thirds of the calories American children eat come from ultra-processed foods. Young children get nearly half their daily calories from these foods, while older kids get about 60%. This high consumption is connected to obesity, heart disease risk, liver problems, and mental health issues.
  • What it means for you: If your child eats a lot of packaged, processed foods, gradually replacing some with whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and home-cooked meals may help improve their health. Talk to your doctor about your child’s diet and get personalized advice for your family.

The Research Details

Researchers conducted a comprehensive review, which means they looked at many different studies, surveys, and government reports about ultra-processed foods and children’s health. They examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which tracks what Americans eat, as well as official dietary guidelines and health commission reports. This approach allows researchers to see patterns across many studies rather than relying on just one experiment.

The review explored why children eat so many ultra-processed foods—including family income, what’s available in neighborhoods, advertising, and how convenient these foods are. The researchers also looked at what health problems result from eating these foods and what solutions experts recommend, such as better food labeling, healthier school meals, and family nutrition counseling.

This type of review is valuable because it brings together information from many sources to give a complete picture of a health problem and potential solutions.

By reviewing many studies together, researchers can identify strong patterns that might not show up in a single study. This helps doctors and policymakers understand the real scope of the problem and develop effective solutions. Understanding why families eat ultra-processed foods—such as cost and convenience—is just as important as knowing the health effects, because solutions need to address these underlying reasons.

This review examined multiple types of evidence including observational studies (which track what people eat and their health outcomes), systematic reviews (which compile findings from many studies), and official government reports. The researchers looked at recent data from 2025, making the information current. However, because this is a review rather than a new experiment, the strength of conclusions depends on the quality of the studies it examined. The review’s findings are strongest for showing connections between ultra-processed food consumption and health problems, though proving that these foods directly cause the problems would require additional research.

What the Results Show

The review found that ultra-processed foods make up a huge portion of what American children eat—approximately 67% of total daily calories. This percentage is even higher in younger children: toddlers get about 47% of their calories from these foods, and school-aged children get about 59.4%. These ultra-processed foods are manufactured in factories and contain added sugars, unhealthy fats, and salt, but they lack important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber that children need to grow and stay healthy.

Children who eat more ultra-processed foods have higher rates of obesity (being significantly overweight) and cardiometabolic problems, which means problems with the heart, blood vessels, and how the body manages blood sugar. The review also found connections to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which is fatty liver disease that can develop when the body doesn’t process food properly.

Beyond physical health, the review identified links between high ultra-processed food consumption and mental health concerns in children. Additionally, these foods appear to harm the gut microbiome—the community of helpful bacteria in the stomach that supports digestion and overall health.

An important finding is that early exposure to ultra-processed foods can create eating habits that stick with children into adulthood, increasing their risk of chronic diseases later in life. The review also highlighted a health disparity: children from lower-income families tend to eat more ultra-processed foods, partly because these foods are often cheaper and more convenient than fresh, whole foods.

The review identified several important secondary findings. First, ultra-processed food consumption is a modifiable risk factor, meaning families can change this behavior to improve health. Second, the review found that addressing this problem requires action at multiple levels—families need support, schools need to offer better meals, neighborhoods need access to healthy foods, and policies need to limit marketing of unhealthy foods to children. Third, the researchers noted that healthcare providers often lack standardized tools and training to help families reduce ultra-processed food consumption, suggesting that improving doctor-patient conversations about diet is important.

This review builds on previous research showing that ultra-processed foods are linked to health problems in children. The 2025 findings confirm and expand on earlier concerns, providing updated data on how much of children’s diets consist of these foods. The review incorporates the latest government dietary guidelines and health commission reports, showing that this remains a priority concern for public health experts. The emphasis on health disparities (the fact that lower-income families are more affected) reflects growing recognition that this isn’t just an individual choice problem but a systemic issue requiring policy solutions.

This review has several important limitations. First, it doesn’t include a specific sample size because it’s a review of many studies rather than a single experiment. Second, while the review shows connections between ultra-processed foods and health problems, it cannot definitively prove that these foods directly cause the problems—other factors in children’s lives also affect their health. Third, the review relies on observational studies, which show what people eat and their health outcomes but can’t prove cause-and-effect the way a controlled experiment could. Finally, the review focuses on American children, so findings may not apply equally to children in other countries with different food systems and dietary patterns.

The Bottom Line

Based on this review, health experts recommend: (1) Doctors should ask families about ultra-processed food consumption during regular check-ups and provide guidance on healthier choices (moderate to strong confidence); (2) Families should gradually replace some ultra-processed foods with whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and home-cooked meals (moderate confidence); (3) Schools should improve meal quality and limit access to unhealthy foods (moderate to strong confidence); (4) Policymakers should restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to children and improve nutrition labeling so families can make informed choices (moderate confidence); (5) Communities should work to improve access to affordable, healthy foods in all neighborhoods, especially lower-income areas (moderate confidence).

Every parent and caregiver should care about this research, especially if their children eat a lot of packaged, processed, or fast foods. Children with obesity, heart disease risk factors, or digestive problems may particularly benefit from reducing ultra-processed foods. Lower-income families should know that this research recognizes the real barriers they face and that solutions need to include making healthy foods more affordable and accessible. Healthcare providers should use this information to improve conversations with families about diet. Policymakers and school administrators should consider these findings when making decisions about food policies and nutrition programs.

Changes in children’s health from reducing ultra-processed foods typically develop gradually. Some benefits, like improved energy levels and better digestion, may appear within weeks to a few months. Weight loss and improvements in blood sugar control usually take several months. Long-term benefits like reduced risk of chronic diseases develop over years. It’s important to make changes gradually and sustainably rather than expecting overnight results.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track the percentage of your child’s daily calories that come from ultra-processed foods. Start by estimating their current percentage (the review suggests it’s likely 47-60%), then set a goal to reduce it by 10% every month. Use the app to log meals and categorize foods as whole foods or ultra-processed, calculating the daily percentage.
  • Use the app to plan one home-cooked family meal per week, starting with simple recipes. Track which ultra-processed foods your child eats most frequently, then identify one to replace with a healthier alternative (for example, replacing sugary cereal with oatmeal, or packaged snacks with fruit). Celebrate small wins when your child tries new whole foods.
  • Set up weekly check-ins to review your child’s food intake patterns. Track not just what they eat, but also how they feel—energy levels, mood, digestion, and sleep quality. Use the app to set reminders for grocery shopping focused on whole foods, and monitor your progress toward reducing ultra-processed food consumption over months and years.

This review summarizes research findings about ultra-processed foods and children’s health but is not medical advice. Individual children have different nutritional needs based on age, activity level, and health conditions. Before making significant changes to your child’s diet, especially if your child has existing health conditions, allergies, or takes medications, consult with your pediatrician or a registered dietitian. They can provide personalized recommendations for your child’s specific situation. This information is intended to help you understand current research and have informed conversations with your healthcare provider.