Sajia Athai, Class of 2026

With social media and YouTube beginning an era of tutorials, DIY videos, and cooking shows, it has become increasingly accessible to try new foods. From hwachae to Dubai chocolate bars, people globally try new sweets and dishes that excite their sweet tooth. It’s often easy to forget to consume these sweets in moderation. In addition, changes in meat-processing and cooking techniques have also catalyzed increasing amounts of saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. new cancer research and health standards continue to remind us to control the amount of sugar we consume. With these new food trends, it has become difficult to stop the alluring eye from glancing at each option. A group of Stony Brook University Hospital researchers led by Barbara Nemesure have emphasized the need to understand dietary habits and lifestyle in the formation of EOCRC.

In a group of 900 patients with colorectal cancer,  the SBU researchers collected demographic data, medical history, and dietary habits in order to analyze the rates of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC). While previous studies often focused on underlying health conditions such as obesity, it has been revealed that 11% of participants less than the age of 50 had no underlying health conditions at all. This suggests the need to understand the impacts of individual dietary habits on the development of CRC. Diets in patients comprising sugars, fats, and reduced amounts of vegetables in patients were associated with inflammatory responses in intestinal environments—showing a strong correlation between the metabolic decomposition of lipids and EOCRC. On the other hand, diets rich in legumes, vegetables, and fruits in the majority of the participants without underlying health issues suggested the opposite effect— high fiber intake serves as a protective shield against EOCRC. 

The researchers concluded that diets rich in sugar and oil play integral roles in colorectal cancer and EOCRC. While many are under the presumption that cancer is associated with health conditions such as obesity, it does not serve to be one of the only underlying causes. Colorectal cancer is one of the most prominent diseases now found in younger individuals. With proper dietary adjustments and precautionary measures taken to detect the cancer, it would change the lives of many to prioritize moderate eating habits. Many believe they are “invincible” when young, but disease has no age restrictions. The fast food epidemic serves to be detrimental to the health of many—fostering indulgence and poor eating habits.

Figure 1: Aisles full of fresh vegetables are often ignored in a supermarket.

Works Cited:

[1] Atchade, A. M., Williams, J. L., Mermelstein, L., & Nemesure, B. (2024, March 19). Unraveling the complexities of early-onset colorectal cancer: A perspective on dietary and microbial influences. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1370108/full 

[2] Image retrieved from: https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-vegetable-lot-2733918/