Eating often could have a hidden cost along the way, new research suggests. The study found an association between frequent eating at restaurants and a higher risk of dying earlier, along with deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Researchers at the University of Iowa analyzed data from 25 years (1990 to 2014) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study, a nationally representative survey of Americans’ style habits. During this time, more than 35,000 adults over the age of 20 participated in the survey and answered questions about their diet, including how often they ate. These data were then linked to mortality data updated by 2015. By that time, there were 2,781 documented deaths among those surveyed.
The researchers rated those in the survey who reported eating out at least twice a day as often as eating out. And, compared to people who ate less than one meal a week, on average, those who ate frequently had A 49% higher associated risk of death, taking into account factors such as age, sex and other lifestyle habits. They also had a significantly higher risk of death due to cardiovascular disease (18%) and cancer (67%).
“Frequent consumption of meals prepared away from home is significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality from all causes,” the authors wrote in their paper, published Thursday in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
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These types of observational studies can only indicate a correlation between the things they should study, not demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship. And this is an important reason why it is complicated to draw concrete conclusions about how our diets it affects our health, especially something as complicated as death. A person who eats a lot is likely different in other important ways from someone who doesn’t eat out. If someone eats frequently because they don’t have time to cook at home, for example, then they may not have time to exercise or have trouble getting enough. are you sleeping.
At the same time, there are a lot of other research showing that the food we receive from meals outside tends to be less healthy for us than food we cook at home, especially when it comes fast food or casual restaurants. So, although you shouldn’t necessarily think that eating twice a day every day will definitely and directly increase your relative risk of dying earlier by 50%., probably not very good for you yet.
“The message to take home is that frequent consumption of meals prepared away from home may not be a healthy habit,” the authors wrote. “Instead, people should be encouraged to consider preparing more meals at home.”