Their cheeks are fuller, their eyes are slightly sunken, and their teeth are tightly packed.
These are the faces of children who grew up eating ultra-processed foods, and health experts warn that the shape of their faces could be irreversibly changed.
Dailymail.com uses an AI image generator to show how children’s faces change when fed junk food, with input from leading dentists who say they are noticing trends. I looked into it.
Dr. Ben Miraria, a New York dentist with more than 30 years of experience, says popular ultra-processed foods like hamburgers, fries and processed meats are too soft to swallow.
Eating these foods repeatedly from a young age prevents the jaw muscles from developing properly and affects jaw bone growth, he says.
An underdeveloped jaw can lead to a variety of health problems, including crowded or crooked teeth, narrowed airways, and poor posture.
An AI-generated image from DailyMail.com shows the changes in children’s faces after incorporating Dr. Miraglia’s instructions into the system.
As the child ages, these features worsen and require expensive cosmetic dental treatments to correct overcrowded teeth. Improper diet can also lead to sunken eyes, as vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause a loss of collagen and elastin in the skin.
Dailymail.com used an AI image generator to find out how children’s faces change when they are fed junk food. The image on the left shows a child living on a balanced diet, and the image on the right shows the same child consuming only ultra-processed foods. Examples of negative effects on the face include underdeveloped jaws, crowded teeth, and sunken eyes.
Dr. Noha Ussi, a New Mexico-based dentist, explains how ultra-processed foods can change the shape of your face, saying, “Our ancestors believed that chewing required significant effort.” “They were eating harder, higher-fiber foods, which stimulated and strengthened their jaw muscles and helped promote proper growth.” .
“In contrast, modern diets are dominated by processed, soft foods that require little chewing.
“Not chewing reduces the mechanical stimulation needed for jaw expansion and development, making the jaw smaller and narrower.
“Teeth can become misaligned or crowded because the dental arch is underdeveloped and there isn’t enough space for all the teeth to fit naturally.”
It is estimated that more than 70% of the calories consumed by children and adolescents in the United States come from ultra-processed foods.
This compares to about 30 percent 30 years ago.
According to a CDC study, ultra-processed foods are “containing macronutrients (starches, sugars, fats, isolated proteins), little whole foods, and are often loaded with flavorings, colors, emulsifiers, and other additives.” “cosmetic additives have been added.”
Examples of ultra-processed foods given include soft drinks, packaged salty snacks, cookies and cakes, processed meats, chicken nuggets, and powdered and packaged instant soups.
But you can also include some healthier options, such as whole-grain breakfast cereals, whole-grain breads, and canned beans or tofu, which are softer and more palatable than pure ingredients.
Ultra-processed foods are products that are typically energy-dense, high in calories, sugar, unhealthy fats, and salt, and low in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Consumption levels are generally higher in high-income countries, where products are more available, but are increasing in low- and middle-income countries.
The image on the left shows an AI-generated child eating a balanced diet, and the image on the left shows the same child eating only junk food. Experts say that underdeveloped jaws caused by soft foods can lead to a variety of health problems, including crowded or crooked teeth, narrowed airways, and poor posture. states.
On the left is an AI-generated image showing a girl being fed a balanced diet. On the right, the same girl’s face appears round because her jaw muscles and bones have not developed properly after a diet of ultra-processed foods.
Research has shown that eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods is associated with a variety of health problems, including obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
A recent study conducted in Spain also investigated how these foods are behind the surprising changes in children’s faces.
Scientists in Spain who tracked dozens of young children found that consuming a diet based on UPF, which is generally soft and highly palatable, affected jaw development.
“Chewing stimulates bone growth, strengthens facial muscles, and promotes proper occlusion,” said Dr. Laura Marquez Martínez, a pediatric dentist specialist at the Catholic University of Valencia and co-author of the study. Therefore, it plays an important role in the proper development of the jaw.” Teeth alignment.
“Chewing solid and fibrous foods such as fruits, vegetables, and natural proteins strengthens your jaw and helps prevent problems such as malocclusion (misaligned teeth) and defects in the size and shape of your dental arches. It’s helpful.”
“On the other hand, a diet based on ultra-processed foods that are soft and require minimal effort to chew has a negative impact on jaw development.
“These foods don’t properly stimulate the maxillofacial muscles and bones, which can lead to underdeveloped bone structures and increase the risk of malocclusions and respiratory disease.”
To prevent jaw underdevelopment, experts advise adding hard foods such as raw vegetables, nuts, and hard fruits to your diet.
Chewing hard foods helps develop jaw muscles and supports proper jaw alignment.
At the same time, she also suggests reducing your intake of soft, processed foods that don’t require much chewing.
