Abstract
Adherence to healthy dietary patterns can prevent the development of non-communicable diseases and affect life expectancy. Here, using a prospective population-based cohort data from the UK Biobank, we show that sustained dietary change from unhealthy dietary patterns to the Eatwell Guide dietary recommendations is associated with 8.9 and 8.6 years gain in life expectancy for 40-year-old males and females, respectively. In the same population, sustained dietary change from unhealthy to longevity-associated dietary patterns is associated with 10.8 and 10.4 years gain in life expectancy in males and females, respectively. The largest gains are obtained from consuming more whole grains, nuts and fruits and less sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats. Understanding the contribution of sustained dietary changes to life expectancy can provide guidance for the development of health policies.
Generated Summary
This research article presents a prospective population-based cohort study conducted using data from the UK Biobank. The study investigated the impact of sustained dietary changes on life expectancy in the United Kingdom. The core methodology involved analyzing data from 467,354 participants to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and mortality rates. Researchers utilized a model to estimate life expectancy gains associated with shifts from unhealthy dietary patterns, as well as the median dietary patterns in the UK, to the Eatwell Guide dietary recommendations and longevity-associated dietary patterns. The study considered various food groups and their correlation with mortality risk, providing insights for health policy development.
Key Findings & Statistics
- The study estimated that sustained dietary change from unhealthy patterns to the Eatwell Guide recommendations is associated with 8.9 and 8.6 years gain in life expectancy for 40-year-old males and females, respectively.
- Sustained dietary change from unhealthy to longevity-associated dietary patterns is associated with 10.8 and 10.4 years gain in life expectancy in males and females, respectively.
- The longevity-associated dietary pattern had moderate intakes of whole grains, fruit, fish, and white meat.
- The longevity-associated diet showed relatively low intakes of eggs, red meat, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
- The unhealthy dietary pattern contained no or limited amounts of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, fish, milk and dairy, and white meat, with substantial intakes of processed meat, eggs, refined grains, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
- The strongest positive associations with mortality were for sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meat.
- The strongest inverse associations with mortality were for whole grains and nuts.
- For a 40-year-old with a median dietary pattern, the life expectancy was 44.7 years for females and 41.5 years for males.
- For a 70-year-old with a median dietary pattern, the life expectancy was 17.6 years for females and 15.5 years for males.
- Estimated gains from sustained dietary change from a median UK diet pattern to the longevity-associated diet pattern were 3.1 years for 40-year-old females and 3.4 years for 40-year-old males.
- Correspondingly, for sustained change to the Eatwell dietary pattern, estimated gains were 1.3 years for females and 1.4 years for males.
- Estimated gains from sustained dietary changes from an unhealthy UK diet pattern to the longevity-associated diet pattern were 10.4 years for 40-year-old females and 10.8 years for 40-year-old males.
- Correspondingly, estimated gains from sustained dietary changes from an unhealthy UK diet pattern to the longevity-associated diet pattern were 5.4 years for 70-year-old females and 5.0 years for 70-year-old males.
- Estimated gains from simulated sustained dietary changes from an unhealthy UK diet pattern to full adherence to the Eatwell Guide were 8.6 years for 40-year-old females and 8.9 years for 40-year-old males.
- Corresponding gains for 70-year-old females and males were 4.4 years and 4.0 years, respectively.
- The UK population currently has a life expectancy at birth of 83.6 years for females and 79.9 years for males.
Other Important Findings
- The largest gains in life expectancy were associated with consuming more whole grains, nuts, and fruits and less sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats.
- Higher adherence to the Eatwell Guide recommendations is associated with reduced mortality in the United Kingdom.
- The Eatwell Guide might also be a more realistic target for dietary changes than the statistically set longevity-associated dietary patterns.
- Sensitivity analyses showed that white meat seemed to be more beneficial among females.
- For middle-aged adults in the United Kingdom, sustained dietary improvement is predicted to increase life expectancy by about 3 years.
- For those with the least healthy dietary patterns, change to the longevity-associated dietary pattern is predicted to translate into approximately 10 years gain in life expectancy.
Limitations Noted in the Document
- The study acknowledges limitations including the correlation between food groups and mortality, the potential impact of confounders, and the use of population data with group-level uncertainty.
- The study did not model fluctuating dietary changes.
- The study’s dietary patterns are constructs based on mortality associations.
- The UK Biobank data under-represent non-white populations.
- The exact quintile threshold should be interpreted with caution.
- There were limited and selective data in the dietary recall that could result in biases.
Conclusion
The findings of this study underscore the significant impact of dietary choices on longevity. The research suggests that adopting a healthier dietary pattern, particularly the longevity-associated diet, can lead to substantial increases in life expectancy. The estimated gains of up to 10 years highlight the potential for individuals to extend their lives by making sustained shifts towards more nutritious eating habits. Key takeaways from the study include the importance of consuming whole grains, nuts, fruits, and avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats. These food groups are identified as specific targets for clinical guidance and policy development. The Eatwell Guide also appears to be a pragmatic target for dietary changes. The study’s findings can provide guidance on which policies would be the most effective, and health personnel would also benefit in identifying key risks related to unhealthy dietary patterns with the highest potential for gain when guiding people to prioritize relevant behavior changes. The governmental food strategy in the United Kingdom to address chronic diseases emphasizes a shared responsibility, with the industry having a responsibility to promote and supply healthier foods, the government having a role in making targeted regulatory interventions to support change, and individual consumers being empowered with better information about healthier choices and thus demanding and seeking healthier foods. The study underscores the potential benefits of public health initiatives. It can also provide guidance on which policies would be most effective in promoting healthier eating habits and, consequently, increasing life expectancy. Overall, the study advocates for the implementation of these changes to improve individual and public health.