Researchers looked at health data from China between 2010 and 2021 to understand why colon cancer is increasing in young adults. They found that as takeout food delivery became super popular, young people’s eating habits changed—they ate more processed meats, red meat, and sugary drinks, and less whole grains. At the same time, colon cancer cases went up in people aged 20-39. While the study doesn’t prove takeout causes cancer, it suggests the convenience of delivery apps may be making it easier for people to eat unhealthy foods regularly, which could increase cancer risk over time.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether the growth of takeout food delivery in China is connected to rising colon cancer rates in young adults, and what dietary changes happened during this time period.
  • Who participated: The study analyzed national health data from China covering the entire population from 2010 to 2021, plus detailed dietary information from a nutrition survey tracking what young Chinese adults actually eat.
  • Key finding: Colon cancer cases increased every year in Chinese adults aged 20-39 between 2010 and 2021. During the same period, people ate more red meat, processed meat, and sugary drinks—exactly the foods commonly found in takeout—and less whole grains and milk.
  • What it means for you: If you’re a young adult who frequently orders takeout, this research suggests you might want to pay attention to what you’re ordering. Choosing healthier options when ordering delivery, eating more whole grains, and limiting processed meats and sugary drinks may help reduce your cancer risk. However, this study shows a connection, not proof that takeout causes cancer.

The Research Details

Researchers used two main sources of information. First, they looked at the Global Burden of Disease database, which tracks health problems across the world from 2010 to 2021. This let them see trends in colon cancer and other diet-related diseases in China. Second, they examined the China Health and Nutrition Survey, which is like a detailed food diary that tracks what thousands of Chinese people actually eat over many years.

They compared the timing of three things: when colon cancer cases started rising, when takeout delivery became popular, and when people’s eating habits changed. They looked for patterns to see if these things happened at the same time. This type of study is called an ’ecological analysis’—it’s like looking at a big picture to spot trends, rather than following individual people over time.

This research approach is important because it uses real-world data from millions of people rather than just laboratory studies. By looking at national health records and actual eating patterns, researchers can spot trends that affect whole populations. However, this type of study can only show that things happened at the same time—it can’t prove one thing caused another.

Strengths: The study uses reliable national health databases and covers a full decade of data, making the trends clear and trustworthy. It includes information on multiple diet-related diseases, not just cancer. Weaknesses: This is an ecological study, meaning it looks at population trends rather than tracking individual people. It cannot prove that takeout delivery directly causes cancer—only that the timing lines up. The study doesn’t account for other factors that changed during this period, like stress levels, exercise habits, or pollution. The researchers themselves note that more research is needed to prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

What the Results Show

The most important finding is that colon cancer cases rose steadily in young Chinese adults (aged 20-39) every single year from 2010 to 2021. This is unusual because many other diet-related diseases actually improved during the same time period—for example, vitamin A deficiency dropped significantly, and some digestive diseases decreased.

At the same time this was happening, researchers noticed that young Chinese adults were eating differently. They were eating more red meat (like beef and pork), more processed meats (like sausages and deli meats), and drinking way more sugary soft drinks. Meanwhile, they were eating less whole grains and drinking less milk. These are exactly the types of foods that research has linked to higher colon cancer risk.

The researchers also found that the explosive growth of food delivery apps and takeout restaurants in China happened during this same time period. They suggest that the convenience of ordering unhealthy food to your door may have made it easier for people to eat these risky foods regularly, rather than occasionally.

The study found that while nutritional deficiencies improved (showing that overall food availability got better), the specific types of foods people were eating got worse for cancer risk. Inflammatory bowel disease cases actually decreased, which is interesting because it shows that not all digestive problems increased. The research also highlighted that soft drink consumption skyrocketed—this is important because sugary drinks are linked to multiple health problems beyond cancer.

This research fits with what scientists already know from other countries: colon cancer in young people is increasing in many developed and developing nations. Previous studies have shown that eating lots of red and processed meats increases colon cancer risk, and this study confirms that pattern is happening in China. The connection between takeout culture and unhealthy eating is new for colon cancer research, though similar patterns have been observed with obesity and other diet-related diseases in countries with growing food delivery industries.

This study has important limitations you should know about. First, it shows that colon cancer rose at the same time as takeout became popular, but it doesn’t prove takeout caused the cancer—other things changed too, like overall wealth, stress, physical activity, and environmental factors. Second, the study looks at population-level data, not individual people, so we don’t know if the people eating takeout are the same people getting colon cancer. Third, the researchers couldn’t account for all the factors that might affect cancer risk, like family history, smoking, alcohol use, and exercise habits. Finally, this is a snapshot of China’s situation—results might be different in other countries with different food cultures and healthcare systems.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, here are practical steps: (1) If you order takeout regularly, try to choose options with more vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins—many delivery apps now show nutritional information. (2) Limit red and processed meats in your diet, whether from takeout or home cooking. (3) Replace sugary drinks with water, tea, or milk. (4) Eat more whole grains like brown rice and whole wheat bread. (5) Try to cook at home more often when possible. Confidence level: Moderate—this research suggests these changes may help, but it’s not definitive proof. These recommendations also align with general healthy eating guidelines from health organizations worldwide.

Young adults (especially those aged 20-39) who order takeout frequently should pay attention to this research. People with family histories of colon cancer should be especially careful about their diet. However, this doesn’t mean you can never eat takeout—it’s about making healthier choices when you do. Older adults should also care because colon cancer risk increases with age. People in countries with growing takeout industries (like the United States, Europe, and other Asian countries) should consider these findings relevant to their own situations. This research is less directly relevant to people who rarely eat takeout or who live in areas without food delivery services.

Don’t expect immediate results. Colon cancer develops over many years, usually 10-15 years or more. However, eating healthier can improve your overall health within weeks to months—you might feel more energetic, have better digestion, and maintain a healthier weight. The real benefit of these dietary changes for cancer prevention would show up over years and decades of consistent healthy eating.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your takeout orders and their nutritional content weekly. Specifically, log: (1) How many times you ordered takeout, (2) Whether you chose options with vegetables and whole grains, (3) How many servings of red/processed meat you consumed, (4) How many sugary drinks you had. Aim to reduce takeout frequency by 20% each month and swap at least 50% of orders to healthier options.
  • When using a food delivery app, before ordering, check the nutritional information and deliberately choose one item that’s higher in vegetables or whole grains. Set a weekly goal like ‘I’ll order takeout only 2 times this week instead of 4’ or ‘I’ll pick a salad or vegetable-based dish at least once per delivery order.’ Use the app’s filter features to search for ‘healthy’ or ‘high protein, low processed meat’ options.
  • Create a monthly dashboard showing: (1) Takeout frequency trend, (2) Percentage of orders with vegetables/whole grains, (3) Red/processed meat servings per week, (4) Sugary drink consumption. Set alerts when you exceed your target takeout frequency. Compare month-to-month progress to stay motivated. Consider adding a note about how you feel—energy levels, digestion, weight—to connect dietary changes with real health improvements.

This research shows a connection between takeout culture and rising colon cancer rates in young Chinese adults, but it does not prove that takeout directly causes cancer. This is an observational study that identifies trends rather than proving cause and effect. The findings are specific to China and may not apply to other countries. If you have concerns about colon cancer risk, family history of cancer, or digestive health, please consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian. This article is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Anyone with symptoms like persistent abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, or blood in stool should seek immediate medical attention.