Great Debates in Nutrition: Does the Concept of ‘Ultra-Processed Foods’ Help Inform Dietary Guidelines, Beyond Conventional Classification Systems?

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT

Chair(s)

David Ludwig, MD, PhD

Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center, Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Disclosure(s): Author, books for the public on obesity/nutrition: Ownership Interest (Ongoing)
Christopher Duggan, MD, MPH

Editor in Chief, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Speaker(s)

Carlos Augusto Monteiro, MD, PhD

Professor of Nutrition and Public Health
University of São Paulo
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Arne Astrup, MD, DMSc

Senior Project Director - HWC / Senior Vice President - Obesity and Nutrition Science
Healthy Weight Center
Novo Nordisk Foundation
Hellerup, Hovedstaden, Denmark

Disclosure(s): Green Leaf Medical: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
RNPC, France: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)

Panelist(s)

Susan Roberts, PhD

USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging
Tufts University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Disclosure(s): Danone: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
Instinct Health Science: Ownership Interest (Ongoing)

Disclosure(s):

David S. Ludwig, MD, PhD: Author, books for the public on obesity/nutrition: Ownership Interest (Ongoing)

Christopher P. Duggan, MD, MPH: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Carlos Augusto Monteiro, MD, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Arne Vernon Astrup, MD, DMSc: Green Leaf Medical: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
RNPC, France: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)

Susan B. Roberts, PhD: Danone: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
Instinct Health Science: Ownership Interest (Ongoing)

Dietary guidelines throughout the world are increasingly recommending freshly made meals and minimally or unprocessed foods in place of ultra-processed foods, as defined by the NOVA food classification system.

Studies have shown that increased consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with poor diet quality and increased morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases. Yet, the attributes of processed foods and their potential mechanisms on health outcomes are not well understood.

Join us as the next Great Debates in Nutrition, a popular series in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, takes center stage during NUTRITION 2022 LIVE ONLINE.

Addressing the question of whether the concept of ultra-processed foods helps inform dietary guidelines beyond conventional classification systems, Carlos Monteiro, MD, PhD (University of Sao Paulo) will argue “yes” and Arne Astrup, MD, DMSc (Novo Nordisk Foundation) will counter. The debate will be moderated by David Ludwig, MD, PhD (Boston Children’s Hospital) and Christopher Duggan, MD, MPH (Editor in Chief, AJCN) with Susan Roberts, PhD (USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University) participating as a discussant.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the scientific evidence on the consumption of ultra-processed foods on diet quality and chronic disease
Review potential mechanisms related to ultra-processed foods and health outcomes
Explain some of the criticisms of the NOVA food classification system compared to existing nutrient profiling systems

Presentations:

2:00 PM – 2:10 PM EDT

Introduction - Great Debates in Nutrition: Does the Concept of ‘Ultra-Processed Foods’ Help Inform Dietary Guidelines, Beyond Conventional Classification Systems?
Chair: David S. Ludwig, MD, PhD – New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center, Boston Children's Hospital
Chair: Christopher P. Duggan, MD, MPH – Boston Children's Hospital
2:10 PM – 2:35 PM EDT

Does the Concept of ‘Ultra-Processed Foods’ Help Inform Dietary Guidelines, Beyond Conventional Classification Systems? YES
Speaker: Carlos Augusto Monteiro, MD, PhD – University of São Paulo
2:35 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

Does the Concept of ‘Ultra-Processed Foods’ Help Inform Dietary Guidelines, Beyond Conventional Classification Systems? NO
Speaker: Arne Vernon Astrup, MD, DMSc – Novo Nordisk Foundation
3:00 PM – 3:10 PM EDT

Discussant Remarks - Great Debates in Nutrition: Does the Concept of ‘Ultra-Processed Foods’ Help Inform Dietary Guidelines, Beyond Conventional Classification Systems?
Panelist: Susan B. Roberts, PhD – Tufts University
3:10 PM – 3:25 PM EDT

Panel Discussion - Great Debates in Nutrition: Does the Concept of ‘Ultra-Processed Foods’ Help Inform Dietary Guidelines, Beyond Conventional Classification Systems?
Chair: Christopher P. Duggan, MD, MPH – Boston Children's Hospital
Speaker: Carlos Augusto Monteiro, MD, PhD – University of São Paulo
Speaker: Arne Vernon Astrup, MD, DMSc – Novo Nordisk Foundation
Panelist: Susan B. Roberts, PhD – Tufts University
3:25 PM – 3:30 PM EDT

Closing Remarks - Great Debates in Nutrition: Does the Concept of ‘Ultra-Processed Foods’ Help Inform Dietary Guidelines, Beyond Conventional Classification Systems?
Chair: David S. Ludwig, MD, PhD – New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center, Boston Children's Hospital
Chair: Christopher P. Duggan, MD, MPH – Boston Children's Hospital