Research Findings: Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods May Increase Risk of Premature Mortality
A landmark study links the consumption of ultra-processed foods to increased risk of premature death in eight countries. The research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, suggests that a diet high in packaged snacks, frozen meals, soft drinks, and fast food can lead to an elevated risk of dying young.
The countries surveyed were Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The study analyzed the eating habits of thousands of people and compared that information to the number of deaths recorded annually. As the amount of ultra-processed food someone ate increased, so did their risk of dying early.
Ultra-processed foods are typically high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and salt, along with various artificial additives. One of the lead researchers, Eduardo Augusto Fernandes Nilson from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil, said that for every 10% increase in the share of such foods in a person's diet, the risk of dying from any cause rises by about 3%.
In the United States, over half of the average diet comes from ultra-processed foods, leading to an estimated 124,000 premature deaths in 2018 that could be linked to these products. The connection between these foods and disease is not new, with past research already linking ultra-processed foods to a variety of health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, some cancers, and even depression.
What makes this study different is that it puts numbers to the problem. It shows just how many deaths in each country might be linked to these types of foods. Even countries with lower levels of ultra-processed food consumption, such as Colombia, showed deaths that could be tied back to eating these products. In countries like the U.S. and the U.K., where these foods are common, the numbers were even higher.
The study also highlights the growing global burden of disease attributable to ultra-processed foods, which are increasingly replacing traditional fresh and minimally processed foods in diets worldwide. As these foods spread, the health problems linked to them are likely to get worse around the globe. That makes it even more important for countries to support people in eating real, fresh foods, with ideas such as better food labeling, taxes on junk food, and making healthier food easier to afford and find.
In conclusion, the more people rely on ultra-processed foods, the higher their risk of getting sick and dying early. These foods are designed to be convenient and inexpensive, but they are not designed with health in mind. Swapping out some of these foods for fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains could make a real difference. While it is not realistic to expect everyone to cut out all ultra-processed foods overnight, even small changes could add up over time. It is a reminder that what we put into our bodies every day matters, and it matters more than we often think.
- This landmark study indicates that ultra-processed foods, which are commonly consumed in health-and-wellness discussions, have a direct impact on an individual's lifestyle and food-and-drink choices, increasing the risk of premature death in multiple countries, including the United States and United Kingdom.
- Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health, as a diet high in ultra-processed foods, with its resulting high levels of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and salt, leads to increased health risks such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, certain cancers, and even depression, reinforcing the importance of incorporating fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains into one's daily diet.
