Eating More Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Higher Death Risk, Study Finds
A recent study has found that older adults who eat more ultra-processed foods are nearly 10% more likely to die over a period of 23 years compared to those who eat less of these foods. The study followed over 500,000 people in the United States for about 30 years.
Key Findings:
- Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to increased deaths from heart disease and diabetes.
- No link was found between ultra-processed food consumption and cancer deaths.
Dr. Erikka Loftfield, a Stadtman Investigator at the National Cancer Institute, said, “Our study results support a larger body of literature, including both observational and experimental studies, which indicate that ultra-processed food intake adversely impacts health and longevity.”
The findings were presented at NUTRITION 2024, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held in Chicago from June 29 to July 2.
The study used data from over 540,000 people who shared their eating habits and health information in the mid-1990s when they were between 50 and 71 years old. More than half of the participants have since died.
Researchers found that highly processed meats and soft drinks were strongly associated with higher mortality risk. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans already recommend limiting sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats like hot dogs, sausages, and deli meat.
The study used the NOVA classification system to categorize food processing levels and considered other risk factors like smoking and obesity. Even after accounting for these factors, the link between ultra-processed food consumption and higher death risk remained.
