Sure, you probably know that ultraprocessed foods aren’t good for you. But new research published in JAMA Internal Medicine lays out just how bad they are. Here’s a hint: consuming these items carries with it a much greater risk of death.
A formula for the correlation
Using data from 44,551 people in the French NutriNet-Sante Study, investigators analyzed a variety of factors—such as weight, height, lifestyle, physical activity, socioeconomic status and food intake—over 7.1 years. The individuals in the study were all age 45 or older.
The team found that eating more ultraprocessed items was linked to:
• earning less
• having a lower level of education
• exercising less
• being younger
• living alone
• having a higher BMI
These weren’t exactly surprising results. Neither was the finding that, even after adjusting for a variety of factors, consuming more of these ultraprocessed foods (e.g., sugary drinks, processed meats, breads, ready-made meals and confectionaries), increased the general risk of death.
But just how much of an increase in death risk does consuming these foods cause?
A 10% increase in consuming these types of foods equaled a 14% increase in mortality risk.
“Findings from this prospective study of a large French cohort suggest for the first time, to our knowledge, that an increased proportion of ultrprocessed foods in the diet is associated with a higher risk of overall mortality,” concluded the study authors.
Understanding the link
There are three things that might explain the correlation between a poor diet and longevity:
1. These foods tend to be higher in fat, sugar and sodium and low in fiber.
2. The many additives in these foods often contain emulsifiers, which some studies have linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome.
3. Some of these foods may contain or release carcinogens when cooked.
It’s important to consider, however, that there could also be a reverse causation. For example, if someone develops a chronic disease like diabetes, they may be less able to exercise or get to the store frequently, they may opt for more ready-made meals rather than healthy meals that take more preparation.
