Story at-a-glance

? Colorectal cancer is rising in younger adults, with U.S. rates increasing 2.4% per year since 2012. New evidence points to dietary changes as a contributing factor

? A recent study in JAMA Oncology found that those consuming the most ultraprocessed foods had a 45% higher risk of developing precancerous colorectal tumors before age 50

? Risk increased with higher ultraprocessed food intake, then plateaued beyond seven to eight servings daily. Sweetened beverages, sauces, spreads, and condiments showed the strongest links

? You can reduce ultraprocessed food intake by planning real meals, replacing snack foods with whole ingredients, tracking triggers, and making unprocessed options more visible and accessible in your home

? Lowering your linoleic acid intake, increasing fiber gradually, and supporting gut health with protective foods and habits also helps reduce your risk of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer was once primarily a disease of older adults, but that pattern has been shifting in recent decades. Rates of early-onset colorectal cancer, meaning cases diagnosed before age 50, have been climbing steadily worldwide, with the steepest increases reported in high-income countries.1

In the United States, the incidence of colorectal cancer has increased by an average of 2.4% each year between 2012 and 2021. It ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related death in American men and the fourth in women. Combined, it is the second most common cause of cancer death overall.2

In parallel with this rise, one major change in dietary patterns has drawn increasing attention — the growing dominance of ultraprocessed foods. A recent study published in JAMA Oncology investigated whether higher intake of these items is linked to a greater risk of developing early-onset colorectal cancer, a concern with growing relevance as these foods become dietary staples.3

Higher Intake of Processed Foods Linked to Early Colorectal Tumors

The featured study analyzed data from the Nurses' Health Study II, a large ongoing U.S. cohort of female registered nurses born between 1947 and 1964. Researchers followed over 29,100 participants who completed at least one lower gastrointestinal endoscopy before age 50 and assessed long-term dietary patterns to explore possible links between ultraprocessed food consumption and the development of early colorectal tumors.4