New study links junk food to lung cancer — even in non-smokers

An international research team has found that consuming high amounts of ultra-processed foods may significantly increase the risk of developing lung cancer — even among non-smokers.

The study tracked over 100,000 American adults with an average age of 63 over a 12-year period, during which 1,706 cases of lung cancer were recorded.

Researchers used dietary questionnaires to assess participants’ intake of highly processed foods such as ice cream, fried foods, white bread, cakes, pastries, salty snacks, instant noodles, soft drinks, sweetened fruit juices, hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizza.

Published in the journal Thorax, the findings show that people who consumed the highest amounts of these foods—around three servings per day on average—had a 41% higher risk of developing lung cancer compared to those who consumed the least.

While the study adjusted for whether individuals smoked, it did not control for smoking intensity, a variable that could influence outcomes.

Nonetheless, the researchers emphasized the broader implications, saying, “Reducing the global intake of highly processed foods could contribute to reducing the burden of lung cancer,” they stated.

Commenting on the findings, Dr. Sam Hari, a thoracic radiologist at Royal Free Hospital in London, noted that one in four lung cancer cases occur in non-smokers, underlining the importance of exploring other contributing factors beyond tobacco use.