Ultra-processed foods increase lung cancer risk by up to 41%, study finds

As we ring in the new year with resolutions and fresh starts, here’s yet another wake-up call to ditch the junk carbs and load up on real fruits and vegetables.

A major study reveals that heavy consumption of ultra-processed foods dramatically elevates the risk of lung cancer, independent of smoking history or other risks.

Researchers published findings in the journal Thorax from data on more than 101,000 participants in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial.

Over a 12-year follow-up, investigators documented 1,706 new lung cancer cases, including 1,473 non-small cell lung cancers and 233 small cell cases.

Adults in the highest quartile of ultra-processed food intake, adjusted for calories, faced a 41% increased lung cancer risk compared to the lowest quartile (hazard ratio 1.41).

Risks rose 37% for non-small cell and 44% for small cell subtypes.

Ultra-processed foods involve heavy industrial formulation with additives like preservatives, emulsifiers and artificial flavours.

Common examples include sugar-sweetened beverages, processed meats, packaged snack cakes and pastries, instant noodles, frozen pizzas, sugary cereals, flavoured dairy products, reconstituted meats, refined breads and processed cheeses.

These products dominate diets in the United States, Australia and Britain, supplying over half of daily calories for many people – around 58% in the U.S. Obesity fuels many health crises, including risks tied to poor diets.

U.S. adult obesity rates have tripled since the 1960s, rising from about 13% in 1960-1962 to roughly 40% in recent surveys, according to 2021-2023 data from the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Rates climbed from 30.5% in 1999-2000 to over 41% by 2017-2020.

Globally, the U.S. ranks among the highest, far exceeding most developed nations like Japan (around 4-5%) or many European countries (often 20-25%).

“You can’t say from this study that UPFs cause cancer as it’s observational, so we’re looking at associations, not direct effects. But it does strengthen the case for looking more closely at the food environment many people are living in, where UPFs are cheap, convenient, and heavily marketed, making them a go-to for many,” Rob Hobson, author of Unprocess Your Family Life, told The Independent.

“That might mean cooking more from scratch where possible, adding in more whole foods like vegetables, beans and grains, or just becoming more aware of how often UPFs show up in your day,” Hobson added. “It’s not about being perfect, it’s about balance and understanding how your food choices could be supporting or undermining your long-term health.”

This article originally appeared on RiftTV and is republished by The Noticer with permission.

Header image credit: (Polina Tankilevitch – Pexels)

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