Ultraprocessed Foods and Early-onset Colorectal Cancer: A Growing Public Health Concern
A groundbreaking study published in *JAMA Oncology* has revealed a significant association between the consumption of ultraprocessed foods and the increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer, which is becoming a growing public health concern. Researchers from Mass General Brigham conducted a long-term study analyzing data from over 30,000 women between the ages of 30 and 50, tracking their dietary patterns and medical outcomes over two decades.
The study found that women who consumed the highest levels of ultraprocessed foods, such as ready-to-eat meals, sugary snacks, and highly processed meats, were 45% more likely to develop precancerous adenomas—growths in the colon or rectum that can lead to colorectal cancer—compared to those who consumed the least. These findings come at a time when colorectal cancer rates among younger adults are rising, prompting calls for more research into the role of diet in cancer prevention.