UAE doctors warn ultra-processed foods threaten heart health. A Canadian study published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine linked these foods to up to 38 % of cardiovascular deaths and 37 % of coronary heart disease and stroke deaths. In the UAE, cardiovascular disease is responsible for around 40 % of all deaths, making it the leading cause of mortality. The warning comes as Abu Dhabi announced in February a ban on fast‑food advertising to curb diet‑related illnesses.
Why ultra-processed foods matter for heart health
Researchers modelling Canadian diets found that halving ultra-processed food intake could save more than 8,300 lives. Dr Virginie Hamel of the Centre for Public Health Research at Montreal University said the findings underscore a “substantial and potentially preventable contributor to the burden of cardiovascular disease.” Local cardiology specialist Dr Wesam Wahid Labib Fahum Khalil of Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital in Dubai added that high sugar and fat content in ready meals and breakfast cereals accelerates risk factors such as weight gain and high blood pressure.
In the UAE, the prevalence of heart disease mirrors the Canadian picture, with cardiovascular conditions accounting for roughly 40 % of deaths. Dr Khalil warned that “young people are increasingly at risk because ultra-processed foods are widely available, affordable, heavily marketed, and fit into busy lifestyles.” The February advertising ban in Abu Dhabi aims to reduce exposure to these foods and support public‑health goals.
“Young people are increasingly at risk because ultra-processed foods are widely available, affordable, heavily marketed, and fit into busy lifestyles.”
