“NOVA Tracker”: Statistical validation of the “NOVA Tracker” as an instrument that captures ultra-processed food consumption

Abstract

In Ecuador, overweight and obesity (ow/ob) reach alarmingly high levels of prevalence in adult and adolescent population. Sedentary habits, loss of dietary diversity and consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) are among the identified factorsthat increase the prevalence of ow/ob, which are part of a phenomenon identified as nutritional transition. The development of the agro-industrial sector, along with the urban lifestyle, contributes to a shift in eating patterns, increasing the risks ofchronic non-communicable diseases. This transition occurs when “traditional” diets are replaced with fewer basic foods and greater UPF consumption.