Study: Meat Eaters Live Longer – Or Do They?

The chance for people who do not eat meat to reach 100 years of age may be lower than for meat eaters. That is the conclusion of a study that followed several thousand people. At the same time, the whole picture is more complicated.

The Chinese study was launched in 1998 and followed more than 5,000 people aged 80 and older. In 2018, it was found that those who followed diets without meat were less likely to reach 100 years compared to meat eaters. This seems to contradict other research that claims plant-based diets are better for health and a longer life.

Vegetarian diets have, for example, been linked to lower risks of heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. These advantages, however, partly come from a higher intake of fiber and lower consumption of saturated fat.

Before any definite conclusions can be drawn, there are several important factors to consider. The Chinese study focused on adults aged 80 and above, whose nutritional needs differ significantly from younger people, while most evidence for the health benefits of diets excluding meat comes from studies of younger adults.

Later in life, nutritional priorities change, and instead of focusing on preventing longstanding diseases, the goal is to maintain muscle mass, prevent weight loss, and obtain plenty of nutrients. Thus, the study’s results may reflect the nutritional challenges of old age rather than any problems with plant-based diets. Crucially, this does not diminish the well-established health benefits of such diets for younger and healthier adults.

Body Weight a Key Factor

An important detail is that the lower likelihood of reaching 100 among non-meat eaters was only observed in underweight participants. No such correlation was found among older adults with healthy weight. Being underweight at a higher age is strongly linked to an increased risk of frailty and death. Therefore, body weight seems to be a key factor explaining the results.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this was an observational study — it shows relationships rather than causation. The results are also consistent with the so-called obesity paradox in aging, where somewhat higher body weight is often associated with better survival later in life.

It is also worth noting that the decreased likelihood of reaching 100 observed among non-meat eaters was not apparent among those who included fish, dairy products, or eggs in their diets. These foods provide nutrients important for maintaining muscle and bone health. Older adults who followed these diets had just as much chance of living to 100 as meat eaters.

The researchers argue that moderate amounts of animal-based foods may help prevent malnutrition and loss of muscle mass at a very old age compared to strictly plant-based diets.

Diet for Different Life Stages

The conclusion, therefore, is that rather than focusing on whether one diet is generally better than another, the main message is that diet should be adapted to a person’s life stage – energy requirements decrease with age, but some nutritional needs increase.

Older people still need adequate protein, vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D, especially to preserve muscle mass and prevent frailty. In older adulthood, preventing malnutrition and weight loss often becomes more important than preventing long-term chronic disease.

Plant-based diets can still be healthy options but may require careful planning and, in some cases, supplements to ensure adequate nutrition, especially later in life.

In summary, nutritional needs at 90 can look very different from those at 50, and dietary advice should reflect these changes throughout life. What works for you now may need to be adjusted as you age.