Among adults over 80, diet quality and maintaining a healthy weight matter more for longevity than whether meat is eaten.
A recent study suggests that people who avoid meat may be less likely than meat eaters to live to 100. Before viewing this as a warning about plant-based diets, however, the results deserve a closer look.
The researchers followed more than 5,000 adults in China who were aged 80 and older and took part in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, a nationally representative project that began in 1998. By 2018, participants whose diets excluded meat were less likely to reach centenarian status than those who ate meat.
At first glance, this finding seems to clash with a large body of evidence linking plant-based diets to better health. Vegetarian eating patterns have repeatedly been associated with lower risks of heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, benefits often attributed to higher fiber intake and lower levels of saturated fat.
So how can these results be explained? Several key factors need to be considered before drawing broad conclusions about diet and longevity from this study.
Your body’s needs change as you age
This study focused on adults aged 80 and older, whose nutritional needs differ markedly from those of younger people. As we age, physiological changes alter both how much we eat and what nutrients we need. Energy expenditure drops, while muscle mass, bone density, and appetite often decline. These shifts increase the risk of malnutrition and frailty.
