Psychological Correlates of Ultra-Processed Food Consumption: Examining Executive Functioning and Gut–Brain Axis Indicators in Young Indian Adults

The rising intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has generated apprehensions about their possible impacts on physical and mental health. Recent evidence indicates that dietary patterns may affect cognitive performance and gastrointestinal health via pathways linked to the gut–brain axis. This study investigated the correlation between ultra-processed food intake, executive performance, and gastrointestinal symptoms associated with the gut-brain axis in young Indian people. A quantitative cross-sectional correlational design was utilised. Data were gathered from 200 participants aged 18 to 30 years via an online survey. Consumption of ultra-processed foods was evaluated using the NOVA-UPF Screener (validated for India), gastrointestinal symptoms were quantified via the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and executive functioning was measured through the self-report version of the Adult Executive Functioning Inventory (ADEXI). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed utilising SPSS. The results revealed substantial correlations between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the intensity of gastrointestinal symptoms, alongside connections between gastrointestinal symptoms and challenges in executive functioning. Increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) shown a correlation with diminished executive functioning results, reinforcing theoretical frameworks that connect nutritional quality, gastrointestinal health, and cognitive processes. These findings augment the expanding corpus of research on diet-brain interactions and underscore the possible psychological ramifications of eating habits in young people. The research underscores the need of evaluating food habits in comprehending cognitive and mental health. Additional investigation is necessary to examine causative processes and longitudinal impacts across varied populations.