[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-375965-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-375965-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","beneath-the-surface-the-emerging-role-of-ultra-processed-foods-in-obesity-related-cancer","Beneath the Surface - The Emerging Role of Ultra-Processed Foods in Obesity-Related Cancer","","Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are increasingly prominent in global diets and may represent up to 60% of daily energy intake in some populations. Epidemiological findings associate higher industrial food processing with the obesity epidemic and a rising burden of chronic diseases. Evidence linking UPF intake to cancer outcomes remains limited in prospective studies, but current data suggest cancer risk may rise through obesogenic effects and exposure to carcinogenic agents, including certain additives and processing-related pollutants. The review analyzes obesity–cancer links via immune dysregulation, adipokines and sex hormones, fatty acid metabolism, extracellular matrix remodeling, and chronic inflammation, highlighting consumer and public health interventions and priority research for environmental and health impacts.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/beneath-the-surface-the-emerging-role-of-ultra-processed-foods-in-obesity-related-cancer/375965/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/beneath-the-surface-the-emerging-role-of-ultra-processed-foods-in-obesity-related-cancer/375965.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Sarah ","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-31","2026-09-24",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What does the review consider as the central concern about ultra-processed foods?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"It evaluates how ultra-processed foods may contribute to cancer risk in the context of obesity, supported by epidemiological observations and emerging study findings on biological pathways.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What mechanisms are discussed to explain the obesity–cancer and UPF connection?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The review highlights immune dysregulation, altered adipokines and sex hormones, abnormal fatty acid metabolism, extracellular matrix remodeling, and chronic inflammation.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What types of interventions are suggested to address cancer risk related to UPF consumption?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The document points to multifaceted strategies, including programs to modify consumer behavior and stronger public health regulations to improve food environments.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},375965,1790730749,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145},962085320529,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","Current Oncology Reports (2025) 27:390–414  \n[https://doi.org/10.1007/s1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s1) 1912-025-01654-6  \nBeneath the Surface: The Emerging Role of Ultra‑Processed Foods in Obesity‑Related Cancer  \nIoanna A. Anastasiou1,2 · Dimitris Kounatidis1 · Natalia G. Vallianou3 · Alexandros Skourtis4 · Krystalia Dimitriou5 · IlektraTzivaki3 · Georgios Tsioulos6 · Anastasia Rigatou3 · Irene Karampela7 · Maria Dalamaga8  \nAccepted: 11 February 2025 / Published online: 27 February 2025 © The Author(s) 2025  \nAbstract  \nPurposeof Review Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are becoming more and more important in daily diets around the world; in some cases, they can account for as much as 60% of daily energy intake. Epidemiological evidence suggests that this shift toward high levels of food processing may be partially responsible for the global obesity epidemic and the rise in the prevalence of chronic diseases.  \nRecent Findings Few prospective studies have examined the relationship between UPF consumption and cancer outcomes. According to currently available information, UPFs may increase the risk of cancer due to their obesogenic properties and exposure to substances that can cause cancer, such as certain food additives and pollution from product processing. The complex relationship between obesity and cancer involves factors such as immune dysregulation, altered adipokine and sex hormone levels, abnormal fatty acid metabolism, extracellular matrix remodeling, and chronic inflammation. Addressing cancer risk associated with UPF consumption could involve a multifaceted approach, including consumer behavior modification programs and robust public health regulations aimed at enhancing food environments. Improved knowledge of the potential dual negative impacts of UPFs on the environment and cancer risk is one of the priority areas we identify for future research and policy implications. Various approaches could be used to prevent cancers associated with UPF consumption, such as consumer behavior change programs and stricter public health regulations needed to improve the food environment. Summary This review examines for the first time the potential role of UPFs in cancer risk associated with obesity, exploring underlying biological mechanisms and identifying key areas for future research and policy action, including the dual environmental and health impact of UPFs.  \nKeywords Cancer · Chronic low-grade inflammation · Gut microbiome · Obesity · Ultra-processed foods  \nAbbreviations  \nBMI Body Mass Index BPA Bisphenol-A  \nCI Confidence Interval  \nCKD Chronic Kidney Disease CMC Carboxymethylcellulose CUP Continuous Update Project CVD Cardiovascular Disease  \nDEHP Di(ethylhexyl) Phthalate E171 Titanium Dioxide  \nEOCRC Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer H.pylori Helicobacter Pylori  \nHDL High-Density Lipoprotein HR Hazard Ratio  \nIARC International Agency for Research on Cancer  \nExtended author information available on the last page of the article  \nIGF-1 IL-6  \nLPS  \nMEHP  \nOR  \nP-80  \nRR  \nSRR  \nT2DM  \nTJ  \nTNF  \nUPFs  \nVLDL  \nWHO  \nZO-1  \n↑↓  \nInsulin-Like Growth Factor-I Interleukin-6  \nLipopolysaccharide Mono-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate Odds Ratio  \nPolysorbate-80  \nRelative Risk Summary Relative Risk Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Tight Junction  \nα Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Ultra-Processed Foods  \nVery-Low-Density Lipoprotein World Health Organization Zona Occludens-1  \nIncrease Decrease  \nIntroduction  \nFood processing encompasses various techniques used to transform raw foods into forms suitable for cooking, storage, or direct consumption. These processes include grinding, packaging, heating, freezing, washing, and fermenting [1]. In response to concerns over the potential adverse effects of industrial food processing on diet quality and chronic disease risk, food classification systems have been developed to categorize different types of processed foods [2] . Among these, the NOVA classification system is the most widely used; it introduced","cbCaip3VLTIBKCYY","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaip3VLTIBKCYY","pdf",1415721,25,"English","# Abstract\n# Keywords\n# Abbreviations\n# Introduction\n## Food processing and the NOVA classification\n## UPF intake and obesity prevalence\n## UPF consumption and cancer risk","[{\"question\":\"What does the review consider as the central concern about ultra-processed foods?\",\"answer\":\"It evaluates how ultra-processed foods may contribute to cancer risk in the context of obesity, supported by epidemiological observations and emerging study findings on biological pathways.\"},{\"question\":\"What mechanisms are discussed to explain the obesity–cancer and UPF connection?\",\"answer\":\"The review highlights immune dysregulation, altered adipokines and sex hormones, abnormal fatty acid metabolism, extracellular matrix remodeling, and chronic inflammation.\"},{\"question\":\"What types of interventions are suggested to address cancer risk related to UPF consumption?\",\"answer\":\"The document points to multifaceted strategies, including programs to modify consumer behavior and stronger public health regulations to improve food environments.\"}]","Beneath the Surface - The Emerging Role of Ultra-Processed Foods in Obesity-Related Cancer | PDF",1790216839,63]