Background/Objectives: It is unknown whether the negative health effects associated with ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are due to their nutritional composition or to the extent of food processing itself. We evaluated the impact of a test meal composed only of UPF, according to the NOVA classification, compared to a similar meal without UPF in adults with obesity. Methods: This is a parallel, randomized trial. Adult individuals with obesity, according to BMI, % body fat, and/or waist circumference were included. Individuals ate one out of two test meals, matched for energy density, macronutrients, sodium, and fiber, differing in NOVA classification, as a breakfast after a 12-h fast. The rate of intake, appetite, satiety hormones, energy expenditure, and autonomic function were measured. Data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance. Results: Forty-two individuals were included. We found a significantly faster intake rate (07:52 ± 3:00 vs. 11:07 ± 03:16 min), with less chewing and bites, and greater capacity to eat (39.68 ± 22.69 vs. 23.95 ± 18.92 mm) after the UPF meal, without observed differences in the metabolic outcomes. In an exploratory analysis, after adjusting by sex, leptin levels showed a greater decrease after the test meal in the control group. Conclusions: Although we found a faster intake rate in the UPF meal, only marginal effects were found on the participants’ capacity to eat after the UPF meal. The high similarity between meals, despite differences according to the NOVA classification, may explain these results. As our study was small, these findings require further investigation.

Evidence suggests that the intake of ultra-processed foods (UPF) influences gut microbiota. The present study evaluated the impact of energy restriction of dietary UPF compared to a general energy restriction on the gut microbiota of individuals with obesity. This was a parallel, randomized clinical trial. Individuals with obesity were randomly allocated into two groups: control, with general energy restriction (ER-G), and intervention, with energy restriction associated with UPF restriction (ER-UPF), limited to 5% of total intake. Individuals were followed-up monthly for 6 months. Stool samples were collected at baseline and after 6 months for DNA extraction and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4 region). Socioeconomic, clinical, anthropometric, and dietary intake data were also collected. Abundance of microbiota data was analyzed using the Linear Models for Microarray Data (limma-voom) and the Microbiome Multivariable Associations with Linear Models (MaAsLin2) packages, with the Benjamini–Hochberg correction method. Alpha-diversity was analyzed using the Shannon, Simpson and Simpson-inverse index, whereas beta-diversity was analyzed using the Bray–Curtis index with the PERMANOVA test. Other variables were analyzed using mixed ANOVA with an alpha level of 5%. A total of 43 individuals were included, and at the end of the study, 34 individuals (18 intervention and 16 control) had complete data and were analyzed. %UPF consumption significantly decreased in the group that restricted UPF (p-interaction = 0.01), whereas waist circumference and body fat decreased in both groups (p-moment < 0.01). It was observed an increase in phylum and family microbial alpha-diversity in both groups with a slight decrease at the genus level. The Ruminococcaceae family showed a significantly greater increase in the ER-UPF group compared to the control group (p-interaction = 0.03), as did the Faecalibacterium genus (p = 0.02). These findings highlight the complexity of interactions between diet, body composition, and gut microbiota, suggesting that UPF restriction may have positive but limited effects on microbiota modulation in the short to medium term. Registration number of Clinical Trial: RBR – 3q9vgk9.

A Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool (BPAAT) é uma ferramenta prática, válida e facilmente aplicável para avaliar o nível de atividade física em estudos populacionais ou ambientes de atenção primária à saúde. A tradução e equivalência semântica dessa ferramenta para o português brasileiro são fundamentais para futuros estudos e sua integração no cotidiano dos profissionais de saúde. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi propor a tradução e estabelecer a equivalência semântica da ferramenta BPAAT para o português brasileiro. O estudo foi realizado por meio de plataforma digital, recrutando indivíduos adultos (de 18 a 60 anos) das cinco regiões do Brasil. Cinco etapas foram realizadas para a tradução e equivalência semântica do instrumento: tradução dos instrumentos do idioma de origem (inglês) para o idioma de destino (português brasileiro); síntese das traduções; back translation; avaliação por comitê de especialistas; e avaliação do instrumento pela população-alvo. Um total de 18 especialistas na área e 130 indivíduos da população em geral foram consultados para avaliar a tradução da ferramenta. Em média, ambos os grupos de avaliadores classificaram a clareza, adequação e compreensão das duas questões da BPAAT com uma pontuação ≥ 4 de 5. Além disso, ambos os grupos forneceram sugestões sobre a inclusão de exemplos de atividades físicas e sugeriram substituições de palavras. A versão atual da ferramenta apresenta escores satisfatórios de clareza, adequação e compreensão pela população em geral, possibilitando sua ampla utilização na atenção primária à saúde e na pesquisa científica brasileira.

The association between symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) needs to be better characterized