Health Reports
A Canadian peer-reviewed journal of population health and health services research
November 2025
Consumption of ultra-processed and minimally processed foods by eating location and occasion in Canada
Unhealthy diet is a leading risk factor for disease burden in Canada. The food environment in high-income countries, including Canada, is saturated with ultra-processed food and drink products (UPF). The most recent (2019) Canada’s food guide for the first time added a recommendation to limit the consumption of highly processed foods because they undermine healthy eating. There is mounting evidence that high consumption of UPF is associated with negative dietary and health impacts. A recent comprehensive umbrella review based on evidence from nearly 10 million participants concluded that greater consumption of UPF was associated with elevated risk of 32 health outcomes, particularly cardiometabolic outcomes (e.g., overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease), common mental disorders (e.g., anxiety and depression), and premature mortality. UPF are also associated with a range of negative environmental impacts, including plastic pollution and intensive agriculture.
Full article PDF versionVirtual care use in Canada: Variation across sociodemographic and health-related factors
The COVID-19 pandemic changed how Canadians accessed health care, substantially increasing their use of virtual services. In 2019, 2% to 11% of patient services were virtual, depending on the province. During the pandemic lockdowns in April 2020, virtual visits accounted for 61% of all COVID-19-related health care visits and 54% of other health care visits. Virtual care was considered an innovative way of maintaining access to care while decreasing the risk of infection during the pandemic, and provinces facilitated the expansion of virtual services by modifying or creating new billing codes.
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