PD647 - ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS AND OBESITY: MAPPING GLOBAL RESEARCH TRENDS AND EMERGING THEMES

PD647

ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS AND OBESITY: MAPPING GLOBAL RESEARCH TRENDS AND EMERGING THEMES

G. UZLU^1,*, H. M. BAYRAM¹

¹Nutrition and Dietetics, Istanbul Gelisim University, İstanbul, Türkiye

Rationale: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have been increasingly linked to obesity and related metabolic outcomes. This study aimed to map global publication trends, research hotspots, and emerging themes in the literature on UPFs and obesity.

Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using Scopus. English-language publications published between 2013 and 2025 were retrieved using predefined terms for UPFs and obesity or body mass index (BMI) in titles, abstracts, and keywords. VOSviewer was used to analyze keyword co-occurrence, thematic clustering, and temporal trends through overlay visualization.

Results: A total of 859 publications were included. Annual scientific output increased markedly from 2 publications in 2013 to 213 in 2025. Brazil was the leading contributor (n=343), followed by the United States (n=207), Spain (n=68), and the United Kingdom (n=67). Among 120 included keywords, 9 thematic clusters were identified, with 1,155 links and a total link strength of 2,132. The most frequent keywords were “obesity” (n=203) and “ultra-processed foods” (n=183). Overlay visualization indicated a shift from descriptive obesity-focused research toward gut microbiota, mental health, COVID-19-related dietary changes, and adolescent populations.

Conclusion: Research on UPFs and obesity has expanded substantially and evolved toward a broader, multidisciplinary field. Bibliometric mapping may help identify future research priorities and support prevention-oriented nutrition strategies.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared