The Claim

Among Costa Rican adolescents aged 13–18, a 10-percentage-point increase in ultra-processed food intake as a share of total energy intake is associated with a 0.44-point decrease in adherence to the traditional Costa Rican diet, as measured by the Traditional Costa Rica Adolescents Diet Score.

Source: Ultra-processed food intake is associated with a displacement of the traditional diet of Costa Rican adolescents.

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports

44score

Challenges

0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation

1 study reviewed

In plain English

In Costa Rican teens aged 13 to 18, eating more ultra-processed foods is linked to lower adherence to the traditional Costa Rican diet, with each 10% increase in ultra-processed food intake corresponding to a 0.44-point drop on a standardized diet quality score.

See the scientific wording

Among Costa Rican adolescents aged 13–18, each 10-percentage-point increase in ultra-processed food intake as a share of total energy intake is associated with a 0.44-point decrease in adherence to the traditional Costa Rican diet, as measured by the Traditional Costa Rica Adolescents Diet Score, indicating a consistent inverse relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and dietary quality.

Why this might work

When teens eat more ultra-processed foods, the high sugar, salt, and fat content overstimulates brain reward centers, making them feel satisfied faster and reducing interest in less intensely flavored traditional foods like beans and rice. This changes their hunger signals and food choices so they eat less of the traditional diet.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

Study: Ultra-processed food intake is associated with a displacement of the traditional diet of Costa Rican adolescents.
The study found that when Costa Rican teens eat more junk food like snacks and sugary drinks, they eat less of their traditional foods like beans and rice — and the more junk food they eat, the lower their healthy diet score becomes.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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