Lifestyle factor
Diet quality and life expectancy
Diet quality influences life expectancy mainly through cardiovascular and metabolic health.
What the research suggests
Research associates dietary patterns rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, and fish, and lower in processed meat and ultra-processed food, with lower mortality. Modelling studies suggest that shifting from a typical Western diet to such a pattern is associated with several years of additional life expectancy, with the largest gains from sustained changes started earlier.
What helps
- More vegetables, fruit, and whole grains
- More legumes and fish
- Less processed and red meat
- Less ultra-processed food and sugary drinks
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How does diet quality affect life expectancy?
Research associates dietary patterns rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, and fish, and lower in processed meat and ultra-processed food, with lower mortality. Modelling studies suggest that shifting from a typical Western diet to such a pattern is associated with several years of additional life expectancy, with the largest gains from sustained changes started earlier.
What is the single most useful change?
More vegetables, fruit, and whole grains. Sustained changes started earlier tend to have the largest effect, though benefit is associated with change at any age.