Out Of The Box

We know its best to cut down on processed foods, but considering that so much in our diet from olive oil to ready meals falls under that umbrella, where do we start? Read on for a guide to whats okay and what to limit

- Julia Braybrook

When it comes to the number on the scales, New Zealand doesn’t fare well. We’ve been ranked third by the OECD in their obesity update – just behind the US and Mexico – with around two-thirds of Kiwi adults classified as overweight or obese.

The obesity epidemic isn’t a new crisis, and plenty of solutions have been put forth, but now researchers believe that a diet high in heavily processed foods may be the key culprit behind our growing waistlines. A recent report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Pan American Health Organization pointed to increased consumption of “ultra-processed products” as a major factor behind the growing scale of obesity worldwide.

More worryingly, these foods may be doing more than making us fat. Scientists at France’s Sorbonne University studied the medical records and eating habits of almost 105,000 adults and found that a 10% increase in the amount of ultra-processed foods was associated with a 12% increase in the risk of developing cancer. It’s a scary thought, especially as Kiwi researchers have found that almost 85% of packaged foods on our supermarket shelves are classified as being ultra-processed – and they constitute up to 50% of our daily calorie intake.