Introduction:

The accelerated nutritional transition in Latin America has modified dietary patterns, favoring diets with a greater participation of industrialized products and a high contribution of nutrients related to chronic diseases such as fats (saturated, trans), sodium, free sugar, and energy density.

Objective:

To describe the dietary moments of consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) during the day in Antioquia, Colombia.

Materials and methods:

Cross-sectional descriptive study using food consumption data from the Food and Nutrition Profile of Antioquia 2019 and the Food and Nutrition Security Profile of Medellín 2015, in general population, sample of 13,494 individuals. Foods were classified according to NOVA and grouped into subcategories. The mean energy consumed and its standard deviation (95% confidence), were calculated for the NOVA categories and subcategories, as well as its distribution at feeding times.

Results:

for the population of Medellín (capital of Antioquia), on average 54.7% of the energy came from unprocessed foods, 17.3% from culinary ingredients, and 20.4% from UPF. In the population of Antioquia, 56.0% of the energy was obtained from unprocessed foods, 18.8% from culinary ingredients, and 17.0% from UPF. At the main eating moments (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) unprocessed foods have a greater energy contribution. While the food moments with the highest percentage of energy coming from UPF were mid-morning snacks and snacks.

Conclusions:

For Antioqueños the greatest risk of consuming UPFs related to obesity and chronic diseases occurs between main meals.