Greeks may be known (and even revered) around the world for their Mediterranean Diet, one of the healthiest diets across the globe, based on highly nutritious foods like vegetables, whole grains and olive oil that keep them healthy. Yet, a new study reveals that Greek children have been breaking away from that nutrition model, with 40 percent of their daily calorie intake coming from ultra-processed foods, like chips, sweetened breakfast cereals and candy.
The study was published recently in the scientific journal Nutrition Bulletin and it involves Greek children aged 2-18. It was conducted by researchers at the University of Lefkosia in Cyprus and the Agricultural University of Athens and it’s the first of its kind in Greece. The study was conducted in a sample of 443 children with an average age of nine years and showed that 39.8 percent of their daily calorie intake was based on ultra-processed foods, which are of a low nutritional value and according to many studies, carry health hazards.
According to Antonis Zampelas, professor at the Agricultural University of Athens, honorary professor at the Medical School of University College in London and President of EFET (Greece’s Food Authority), four categories of ultra-processed foods are to blame for this high calorie intake: ready-made meals (36.2 percent), sweetened cereals (21.4 percent), snacks (15.4 percent) and sweets.
The other ultra-processed foods consumed by Greek children and teenagers that contribute to obesity include burgers, fries, cookies, cereal bars, waffles, sweet pies and other similar products sold at bakeries.
In Greece, 43 percent of children aged 5-7 and 37.5 percent of children and teenagers aged 2-14 are either overweight or obese.
One of the interesting findings however, is that consumption of sweetened soft drinks did not present a significant obesity factor among Greek children.
“Children in our country do not consume these drinks as much as children in other countries do,” Prof Zampelas told Vima daily. “Consumption among Greek children is around half a liter per week when in the United States the equivalent is half a liter per day.”
While the daily calorie intake from ultra-processed foods among Greek children may have not reached the high levels witnessed in other countries -in the United States, ultra-processed foods provide 60 percent of the children’s daily calorie intake-, the study’s findings are prompting experts to raise alarm bells.
“There needs to be a stop to this trend in order to protect the children in our country from future health problems -and this doesn’t only apply to obese children but also to children of a normal weight, who because of the ultra-processed food consumption are becoming ‘eligible’ to develop a number of diseases in the future,” Prof Zamplelas said.
A number of studies have highlighted the dangers of ultra-processed food consumption. A 2024 meta-analysis study, published in the British Medical Journal which was based on a sample of about 10 million people, showed an immediate connection between ultra-processed foods and 32 diseases.
Those consuming these foods had a 50 percent risk increase in developing cardiovascular diseases, a 48-53 percent increase in developing mental health disorders and a 12 percent increase in Type II diabetes.
Ultra-processed foods are foods that go through multiple industrial processes, contain many added ingredients (including many conservatives) and are highly manipulated before being consumed. Usually they also contain high doses of sugar, salt and saturated fat.
