Hyderabad, May 23 -- Young adults in Hyderabad who frequently consume ultra-processed foods high in fat and salt are nearly three times more likely to develop elevated blood pressure, according to a new study by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN).

The study, published in the international journal Nutrients, examined 311 undergraduate students aged 18 to 24 from three colleges in Hyderabad.

Researchers found that 12.5 percent of participants already had high blood pressure levels of 140/90 mmHg or above, indicating growing cardiovascular health risks among urban youth.

After adjusting for age, sex and socioeconomic factors, researchers found that students who frequently consumed high-fat an...