Impact beyond the headlines Revealing the true reach of the research we publish Research published in The BMJ often ignites immediate discussion, but its influence reaches far beyond academic citations. A striking example is the 2024 study Ultra-processed food exposure and
adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses 11 by Dr Melissa Lane and colleagues from Deakin University, Australia. Their work found consistent evidence linking high consumption of ultra-processed foods to increased risks of 32 serious health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders, and premature death. Following a global press release by BMJ Group’s media relations team, the study achieved remarkable and swift reach across 450 news outlets. In addition, it garnered attention well beyond news headlines. To fully understand its impact, we turn to BMJ Impact Analytics , which tracks citations in policy documents, reports, and influential analyses, areas that conventional metrics often overlook. This deeper insight reveals that the study ranks in the top 1% of outputs from The BMJ . It has been cited in 11 UK Parliament select committee reports, three Food Foundation publications, five United Nations documents,
and major reports from the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, the World Bank, and the World Food Programme. Most recently, it was cited by the American Council on Science and Health. 12
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