US study links ultra-processed diets to preterm birth, sparks concern in India

By Jag Jivan 

A growing body of scientific evidence linking ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption during pregnancy to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes has sparked fresh concern among public health experts, with Indian nutrition advocates warning of serious implications for the country’s already strained maternal health landscape.

A recent report published by the advocacy group U.S. Right to Know highlights findings from a U.S.-based study showing that higher intake of ultra-processed foods during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of preterm birth and hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia. According to the study, “for every 10% increase in ultra-processed food intake, the risk of preterm birth rose by about 11%, while the risk of hypertensive disorders increased by 5%,” underscoring what researchers describe as a significant and measurable dietary risk factor.

Public health experts in India say these findings resonate strongly in the domestic context. Dr. Arun Gupta, Convener of Nutrition Advocacy for Public Interest (NAPi) and former member of the Prime Minister’s Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges, said the evidence carries “critical implications for India,” where multiple nutritional burdens coexist.

“The evidence that ultra-processed foods raise the risk of pregnancy complications—including preterm birth and hypertensive disorders—has critical implications for India,” Dr. Gupta said. “These findings intersect with the country’s unique public health challenges, including a rapid rise in UPF consumption, a high baseline burden of maternal undernutrition and low birth weight, and ongoing policy debates about food regulation.”

The USRTK report also noted that ultra-processed foods—typically high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and additives while being low in essential nutrients—are increasingly replacing whole and minimally processed foods in modern diets. Researchers warn that such dietary patterns during pregnancy may adversely affect fetal development and maternal health, contributing to complications that can have lifelong consequences.

In India, these concerns are amplified by rapid dietary transitions. Over the past 15 years, consumption of ultra-processed foods has surged dramatically, paralleling rising rates of obesity and metabolic disorders. Data cited by Dr. Gupta points to a near doubling of obesity prevalence—from 12% to 23% among men and from 15% to 24% among women—linked in part to this dietary shift.

Market figures further illustrate the scale of change. Retail sales of ultra-processed foods in India rose nearly 40-fold, from $0.9 billion in 2006 to about $38 billion in 2019, with the sector expanding at a compound annual growth rate of over 13% between 2011 and 2021. A recent 2025 study in North India found that approximately 75% of respondents had consumed ultra-processed foods in the previous 24 hours, with biscuits emerging as the most commonly consumed item.

Experts attribute this surge not only to urbanisation and changing lifestyles but also to aggressive marketing strategies, particularly those targeting children and adolescents, which are reshaping dietary preferences from an early age.

Dr. Gupta emphasised that addressing the risks associated with ultra-processed foods—especially for pregnant women—requires more than isolated policy interventions. “Other than policy measures directed at curbing UPF consumption, the findings demand a multi-pronged strategy,” he said. “Targeted interventions must be addressed through strengthened antenatal care, with healthcare providers routinely counselling expectant mothers on the risks of UPFs and promoting healthy, traditional diets.”

He added that India’s response must balance the dual burden of malnutrition. “Public health strategies must simultaneously tackle both undernutrition—by promoting affordable, nutrient-rich foods—and overnutrition—by curbing UPF consumption. This requires coordinated policies across food systems, not just awareness campaigns.”

The USRTK article similarly underscores the urgency of translating research into policy action, noting that the growing evidence base should inform dietary guidelines and maternal health programmes worldwide.

“The key now is to move from discussion to decisive, evidence-based action,” Dr. Gupta said, warning that failure to act could jeopardise the health of future generations.

As India continues to grapple with shifting food environments and persistent maternal health challenges, the convergence of global research and domestic trends is likely to intensify calls for stronger regulation, clearer food labelling, and expanded nutrition education—particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women.