The Deadly Link: Ultra-Processed Foods and Mortality

Summary: One of the most extensive studies among more than 100,000 healthcare workers in the US, with a follow-up period of more than 30 years, shows that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with higher overall mortality. 

 Recent times have seen a significant rise in obesity, various metabolic disorders, cancers, and brain disorders like dementia. The sudden rise of multiple non-infectious diseases has perplexed researchers, as no single factor can explain such a sharp rise.

Sure, researchers do see a connection between various ailments. Science has already shown that most diseases like diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and mental disorders are lifestyle disorders. They are the continuum of metabolic disorders occurring due to faulty lifestyle choices or specific lifestyle changes. 

Some of the leading lifestyle changes responsible for the sudden rise of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and dementia are dietary changes and a significant decline in human physical activity levels. People are now consuming more calories, carbs, low-quality fats, and foods low in micronutrients. Not only that, the modern diet is also high in food additives like flavors, preservatives, salt, sugars, and other chemicals, causing significant changes in the gut and metabolism.

It appears that one of the most significant sources of these relatively unhealthy calories is ultra-processed foods. Over the years, people have stopped cooking food, and they have increasingly become reliant on pre-fabricated foods. Most people visit supermarkets and buy foods that require minimal effort to make or even no cooking at all, like breakfast cereals, instant soups, biscuits, yogurts, packed juices, mass-produced breads, crisps, sausages, ham, ice cream, and so on.

The consumption of ultra-processed foods is so massive that most people in the West are now getting most of their calories from these ultra-processed foods. Although it is known that these foods are bad for health, but to what degree remains unknown. This is exactly what this study published in the BMJ explored.

Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption Associated with Lower Life-Expectancy

The study had a long follow-up period and a massive sample size. Thus, the study included about 75,000 nurses from 11 US states with a follow-up period from 1984-2018. It also included about 40,000 male health professionals from all  US states, with a follow-up period from 1986-2018.

Over the follow-up period, 30188 women diet and 18005 men were documented to have died. Researchers had the data on their food habits, and they compared the group with the lowest ultra-processed foods consumption with the highest consumption. They found that overall, ultra-processed foods increased mortality rate by 4% and that of cardiovascular diseases by 9%. Sure, that may not sound massive, but these are still significant numbers and cannot be neglected. Processed meat, seafood, and sugary drinks all were shown to contribute to this risk factor.

Here, it is also worth understanding that medicine has improved considerably over the years, and thus, mortality rates might not represent the complete picture. Thus, for example, ultra-processed foods would also cause much greater morbidity and disability. On the other hand, those who consume fewer processed foods are also more likely to have a higher quality of life. 

The Bottom Line

Keeping in mind that the study was massive and had a follow-up period of more than 30 years, it can be regarded as one of the most robust studies on the topic. The study shows that one of the simpler ways to live longer could be cooking your food by buying local produce instead of consuming ultra-processed food.

Finally, it is also vital to understand that this study was among healthcare workers who have excellent and timely access to healthcare services. These are also people more aware of the health risks posed by certain dietary choices. This means that, in general, population outcomes might be even worse.

Further, modern medicine is quite good at saving lives, which means that the mortality rate does not essentially show the complete picture. Even people with poor lifestyle choices might live long enough with the help of continuous treatment. However, those with a lower intake of ultra-processed foods can expect to live a relatively healthier life, with lesser dependence on medical care, less pain, and better quality of life.

References

Fang, Z., Rossato, S. L., Hang, D., Khandpur, N., Wang, K., Lo, C.-H., Willett, W. C., Giovannucci, E. L., & Song, M. (2024). Association of ultra-processed food consumption with all cause and cause specific mortality: Population based cohort study. BMJ, 385, e078476. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-078476