Doctor issues warning over food ‘worse than smoking’ that is leading cause of ‘early death’

A doctor has issued a warning over a food which could be worse for us than smoking as it emerges as a leading cause of 'early death'.

Our diets can play a huge part in our health these days and we're constantly warned about the potential impacts of overeating or indulging in one too many Easter eggs.

But while there's been a big focus on moving away from things like smoking and drinking alcohol in recent years, there is perhaps an even bigger danger to our health when it comes to ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

These foods, which often contain preservatives, emulsifiers, and sweeteners, are found in almost everything, whether it be stereotypically unhealthy things like chocolate sweets or even things we're told are good for us, like chicken or wholemeal bread.

Doctor Chris van Tulleken has long campaigned for healthier eating and amid the rise in colorectal cancers which have been associated with the consumption of UPFs, he has issued a warning about exactly why they're so bad for us.

Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, he said: "For a very long time, we have been incredibly confused about what to eat.

"We've called the foods that harm us junk food and processed food - high fat, salt and sugar food. We've not had a way of labelling food even as a pandemic of disease taken over the world."

Breakfast cereals may be advertised as healthy but can often be ultra processed (Getty Stock)

Naturally, foods with high quality ingredients will cost more compared to ultra processed foods, which is why they become a viable option for so many people, especially when working with a low income during a cost of living crisis.

But across the whole world, according to the doctor, a poor diet high in ultra processed foods has 'overtaken tobacco as a leading cause of early death'.

He claims that this is 'because ultra-processed food is produced by a food system that is the leading cause of loss of biodiversity and the second-leading cause of carbon emissions and the leading cause of plastic pollution'.

He adds: "So about 12 years ago, the definition was developed to describe a western industrial American diet. And it was done by a team in Brazil, and much of the best work on this stuff has been done by teams in Central and South America."

The consumption of UPFs has been linked to several health issues (Getty Stock)

The doctor went on to say: "The only thing that has changed was the influx of, broadly an American diet of industrial processed foods. The definition was invented in 2009/2010 and we've had a decade evidence now that is very clear that it is ultra processed food that is responsible, not just for pandemic weight gain and obesity, but also for a long list of other health problems, including early death."

Van Tulleken's claims are backed up by a number of studies which associate UPFs with many health conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and bowel cancer.

A 2024 study from the National Library of Medicine found: "High UPF consumption is associated with an increased risk of a variety of chronic diseases and mental health disorders.

"At present, not a single study reported an association between UPF intake and a beneficial health outcome. These findings suggest that dietary patterns with low consumption of UPFs may render broad public health benefits."