CLAIM:
Ultra-processed foods are linked not only to obesity but also to declining mental health, particularly among young adults. Higher consumption of UPFs, especially among people aged 18–34, is associated with poorer “mind health,” according to the Global Mind Project report cited in the post.
FACT:
Multiple studies have found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with poorer mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and stress. However, researchers call for further long-term and mechanistic studies to confirm whether ultra-processed foods directly cause these effects.
In a recent ‘X’ post by Dr Arun Gupta, Paediatrician, MD FIAP, attention was drawn to the possible mental health impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
The caption of the post reads: “Ultra-Processed Foods Linked Not Just to Obesity but Declining Mind Health in Young Adults As 11% of above 55 and 44% between 18-34 years consume UPFs most days of the week or more according to a new report of the Global Mind Project of the SAPIEN LABS.”
“@NAPiIndia calls for preventive policy action to reduce this consumption pattern,” it added.
According to the Economic Survey 2025–26, released ahead of the Union Budget by Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran, India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets for ultra-processed foods globally. The survey notes that ultra-processed food consumption in India “grew by more than 150 per cent from 2009 to 2023.” Retail sales also rose sharply from USD 0.9 billion in 2006 to nearly USD 38 billion in 2019, representing an almost 40-fold increase.
Considering this rapid rise in consumption and the concerns raised in the post, it becomes important to fact-check whether ultra-processed foods are indeed linked to a decline in mental health, particularly among young adults.
Do ultra-processed foods cause a decline in mental health?
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Studies suggest that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is consistently associated with poorer mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. While a relationship between diet and mental health has been observed, researchers caution that further long-term and mechanistic studies are needed to determine whether ultra-processed foods directly cause these mental health effects.
According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, growing research suggests that high consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may be associated with poorer mental health outcomes. A study co-authored by researchers from the institution and published in JAMA Network Open examined the relationship between UPF consumption and depression risk. The research analysed dietary and mental health data from 31,712 middle-aged women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study II between 2003 and 2017. Participants reported their dietary habits every four years and indicated whether they had received a clinical diagnosis of depression or had begun taking antidepressants during the study period.
The study found that women in the highest category of ultra-processed food consumption—nine or more servings per day—had about a 50% higher risk of developing depression compared with those consuming four or fewer servings daily.
Researchers also observed a potential link between artificial sweeteners and depression risk, noting that participants in the highest consumption group had a 26% higher risk of developing depression.
One of the study’s co-authors, Andrew Chan, noted that individuals “may wish to limit their intake of ultra-processed foods wherever possible,” particularly those already experiencing mental health conditions. The researchers also stated that the study controlled for potential confounding factors such as exercise and smoking, and none of the participants had depression at the beginning of the study, helping reduce the likelihood that people with depression were simply more likely to choose ultra-processed foods.
Further evidence comes from a large 2024 umbrella review published in The BMJ, which analysed 45 pooled meta-analyses covering nearly 9.9 million participants. The review examined links between ultra-processed food consumption and multiple health outcomes. Using pre-specified criteria to evaluate the strength of evidence, researchers found that greater exposure to ultra-processed foods was associated with a range of adverse health outcomes, including mental health conditions.
The analysis reported convincing evidence linking higher UPF exposure with increased risks of anxiety outcomes and combined common mental disorder outcomes. In addition, highly suggestive evidence indicated an association between greater UPF consumption and depressive outcomes. The authors concluded that “greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes,” while also noting that the overall quality of evidence ranged from moderate to very low across different analyses.
More recent research has also explored similar associations in younger populations. A 2026 cross-sectional study examined the relationship between ultra-processed food intake and mental health among 263 female adolescents aged 15–18 years in Tehran, Iran.
The results showed that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was significantly associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Participants in the highest UPF consumption group had 3.69 times higher odds of depression, 2.84 times higher odds of stress, and nearly twice the odds of anxiety compared with those in the lowest consumption group.
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However, the authors of the study emphasised that these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to several limitations. They noted that the cross-sectional design prevents establishing a causal relationship, meaning it cannot determine whether ultra-processed foods contributed to mental health problems or whether individuals experiencing mental distress were more likely to consume such foods. The researchers explained that “cross-sectional studies, by their nature, capture exposure and outcome data at a single time point, making it impossible to establish temporal precedence.”
They also highlighted the possibility of reverse causation, where individuals experiencing depression, stress, or anxiety may turn to ultra-processed foods as comfort foods. In addition, the study relied on self-reported dietary data and mental health questionnaires, which may introduce reporting bias, and its relatively small sample size, limited to adolescent girls in Tehran, restricts how widely the findings can be generalised.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS
