Nov 14, 2025
Here’s a brief summary of the New York Post article:
A new study from Mass General Brigham found that eating a lot of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is linked to a higher risk of early-onset colorectal cancer precursors in adults under 50. (New York Post)
The research looked at nearly 30,000 women (from the Nurses’ Health Study II) over more than 20 years, combining diet questionnaires with endoscopy (colonoscopy) data. (New York Post)
Women who reported eating about 10 servings of UPFs per day had a 45% higher risk of developing adenomas (precancerous colon polyps) versus those eating only ~3 servings. (New York Post)
These UPFs are mostly ready-to-eat foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, and artificial additives. (New York Post)
Even after adjusting for other risk factors (like BMI, diabetes, low fiber), the association remained. (New York Post)
The risk appeared to scale with consumption (“fairly linear”): more UPFs = more risk. (New York Post)
This is the first study to directly link UPFs with early-onset (under-50) colorectal cancer risk, not just cancer in older adults. (New York Post)
However, diet doesn’t explain all of the rise in early-onset cases — researchers say other factors must also be at play. (New York Post)
Some experts note the study is observational, so it doesn’t prove UPFs cause cancer. (New York Post)
The study was funded by several major health organizations, including the NIH and the American Cancer Society. (New York Post)