(NEXSTAR) – A decades-long study suggests that certain ultra-processed foods may be reducing your lifespan, researchers report.
Presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting in Chicago, the findings revealed that older adults with diets high in “ultra-processed” foods were about 10% more likely to die during the nearly 30-year study period. The increased risk was particularly associated with deaths linked to diabetes or heart disease. However, the study, which has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, indicated no rise in cancer-related deaths.
According to a study, consuming just one hot dog can take 36 minutes off your life. The study, involving over 540,000 participants aged 50 to 71, found that more than half had died since researchers began collecting self-reported dietary data in the mid-1990s, the American Society for Nutrition noted in a press release.
Researchers utilized the NOVA classification system, grouping foods into four categories: 1) unprocessed or minimally processed foods, 2) processed ingredients (like oils and butter), 3) processed foods (typically category 1 foods altered with category 2 ingredients), and 4) ultra-processed foods (produced through industrial processes and using ingredients rarely found in home kitchens).
The study identified two types of ultra-processed foods—highly processed meat and soft drinks—as being most strongly linked to adverse health effects. Lead author Erikka Loftfield, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute, noted that these subgroups were most strongly associated with mortality risk, emphasizing that a diet low in these foods is already recommended for disease prevention and health promotion.
A representative for the research group was not immediately available to specify the types of soft drinks or processed meats mentioned by Loftfield. According to the NOVA classification system and the World Health Organization, ultra-processed foods include both sugary and artificially sweetened soft drinks, as well as sausages, hot dogs, chicken or fish nuggets, and other “reconstituted meat products.”
Loftfield admitted that the study did not establish causality. However, researchers noted that the findings remained robust even after accounting for other unhealthy traits in participants, such as obesity or smoking. This means that even individuals with healthier lifestyles but higher consumption of ultra-processed foods had increased mortality risks.
The American Society for Nutrition emphasized that the study has not been peer-reviewed but was “evaluated and selected” for presentation by a committee of experts. The authors highlighted the need for further research, given the changes in the American diet since the study began.
Other studies presented at Nutrition 2024 included research on using saunas to stave off menopause-related weight gain, reducing healthcare costs by providing personalized meals for patients with diabetes or heart disease, and exploring the possibility of building a nutrient-dense diet from ultra-processed foods.
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