GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – Researchers are looking into how much ultra-processed foods are in children’s diets.

There’s an increased call for policies to make it easier to know what’s in our food.

This especially stems from the rise in childhood obesity rates. It’s an issue here in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

A new study says more than half of the average child‘s diet may come from ultra-processed foods. In the study, researchers found processed foods made up 47% of toddlers’ calories and 59% for 7-year-olds.

The nutritional culprits may not be what you expect. The biggest offenders weren’t ice cream, fries or candy. They were products like high fiber cereals, flavored yogurt, and breads — foods that are often marketed as “healthy.”

In the study, the toddlers who ate the highest amounts of processed foods were 10 times more likely to stick with those foods as they got older.

The earlier kids were exposed to ultra-processed foods, the less likely they were to consume natural, whole and healthy foods later in the life.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says kids who consume a lot of ultra-processed foods may be at an increased risk of obesity and other health issues, like cardiovascular disease.

Researchers are again calling for increased policies – things like warning labels on food and stricter lunch regulations — to help curb this trend.

Your child‘s diet and what’s best for them is something you can talk to your child’s pediatrician about.

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