Chinese Study Links Meat Intake in Elderly Women to Longer Life

A new study in China found that women over 80 who ate meat every day were more likely to reach 100 than those on plant-based diets, but the effect was seen only among underweight women. No similar difference was found in women of normal weight or those who were overweight, while no significant link was identified between longevity and plant-based eating among men. The study examined more than 5,000 elderly people and said body mass index partly explained the relationship, suggesting that the connection between weight and health outcomes in advanced age may differ from patterns seen in younger years. Researchers calculated that daily meat consumption increased the probability of reaching age 100 by 44% in the underweight group. The findings were described as a statistical association rather than proof of causation, and the study did not assess how eating habits changed over time. It also found that plant-based eaters who consumed fish, dairy products or eggs had similar chances of longevity to those who ate meat.