Effect of ultra-processed food intake on metabolic syndrome components and body fat in children and adolescents: A systematic review based on cohort studies

•Recommendations to reduce population-level consumption of ultra-processed foods should be maintained and the population must be encouraged to this food intake.•There were mixed results in almost every component, except for total cholesterol, where a positive relationship was described in all articles in which it was analyzed.•Different variables such as physical activity can modify the effect of ultra-processed food consumption on body fat and metabolic syndrome components; thus studies must account for it.