Ultra Processed Food

The goal of this observational study is to examine the potential relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and the presence of dental caries and periodontal disease, and to evaluate the role of the Ultra-Processed Food Index (UPFI) in this association. The main question it aims to answer is: Does increased consumption of ultra-processed foods raise the risk or severity of dental caries and periodontal disease in individuals? Participants will include individuals within a specified age range who voluntarily agree to participate in the study. Oral health status will be assessed through standard clinical parameters, including the presence of caries, plaque index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, and bleeding on probing. Dietary habits will be evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and individual UPFI scores will be calculated. The study will aim to observe and analyze the effects of ultra-processed food consumption on oral health outcomes.

This study explores whether simple nutrition education can help children and teens with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) eat fewer ultra-processed foods (UPFs). UPFs include packaged snacks, sugary drinks, and fast food-items that are high in added sugars, fats, and artificial ingredients. Participants will complete online food recalls to measure what they eat and will then receive either nutrition handouts alone or handouts plus a short educational video about UPFs. Researchers will compare changes in UPF intake between the two groups after several weeks and ask families how useful and acceptable they found the materials. The goal is to identify an effective, practical way to support healthier eating habits and long-term gut health in pediatric IBD.

Social media can increase unhealthy eating habits by influencing individuals' desire to eat, especially through images and advertisements of ultra-processed foods. One of the groups most affected by this situation is university students who use social media intensively. Therefore, examining the relationship between social media use and ultra-processed food consumption is important in terms of developing healthy eating awareness.