Exposure to Food Additives, Dietary Indicators, and Adiposity in Chilean Preschool Children

Authors

• Camila Zancheta, Doctoral Program in Public Health, School of Public Health, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
• Mariana Grilo, Doctoral Program in Exercise Physiology and Applied Nutrition, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
• Natalia Rebolledo, Center for Research in Food Environments and Prevention of Chronic Diseases Associated With Nutrition (CIAPEC), Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
• Marcela Reyes, Center for Research in Food Environments and Prevention of Chronic Diseases Associated With Nutrition (CIAPEC), Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
• Camila Corvalan, Center for Research in Food Environments and Prevention of Chronic Diseases Associated With Nutrition (CIAPEC), Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2026

Journal

Pediatric obesity

Volume

21

Issue

3

DOI

10.1111/ijpo.70098

Keywords

Chile; adiposity; children; food additives; nutritional intake; ultra‐processed foods

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To characterise patterns of food additive consumption and examine their associations with dietary indicators and adiposity in Chilean preschoolers. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of 941 children (4-6 years old) from the Food and Environment Chilean Cohort (2016). Food additives present in packaged foods and beverages were identified by linking items reported in 24-h dietary recalls to ingredient lists of packaged products collected in the same year. Additives consumed by ≥ 10% of participants were included in exploratory factor analysis, and linear regression was used to associate additive patterns with nutrient intake (total energy, sugars, saturated fats, protein, and fibre), UPF caloric share, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: On average, children consumed 45.5 additives (including repeated exposures) and 24.7 different additives per day. Flavourings were consumed by 99% of children, and fruit and soft drinks were their primary sources (24.4% of total additives). Five additive patterns were identified; all were associated with at least one dietary indicator, and two with BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Chilean preschoolers are highly exposed to food additives, with distinct consumption patterns linked to poorer diet quality and higher BMI. There is a need for monitoring and regulatory efforts to reduce unnecessary additive exposure during childhood.

APA Citation

Zancheta, Camila; Grilo, Mariana; Rebolledo, Natalia; Reyes, Marcela; and Corvalan, Camila, "Exposure to Food Additives, Dietary Indicators, and Adiposity in Chilean Preschool Children" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 8957.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/8957

Department

Exercise and Nutrition Sciences