Association of Food Expenditure with Life Expectancy in the United States, 2001- 2014

Abstract

A healthy diet is associated with a reduced risk of premature death, but data on the association between food expenditure and life expectancy are scarce. We conducted this study to determine the association of expenditure on food groups with life expectancy in men and women. This study used data from 1548 counties that represent more than 90% of population in the United States during the period of 2001 through 2014. Multivariable adjusted Bayesian generalized linear models were used to assess the associations of county-level expenditure on 9 groups of individual food and combined healthy and unhealthy foods, and a constructed healthy diet score with life expectancy at 40 years of age by sex. One unit increase in the healthy diet score based on food expenditure was associated with a 0.07-year (95% CI, 0.05, 0.10), 0.04-year (95% CI, 0.02, 0.07) and 0.06-year (95% CI, 0.04, 0.08) increase in county-level life expectancy among men, women and combined, respectively. Increasing expenditure on whole grains (estimate of per 1% increase 0.07; 95% CI, 0.03, 0.11), fresh fruit and vegetables (0.06; 95% CI, 0.02, 0.09) and dairy products (0.05; 95% CI, 0.03, 0.07), as well as reducing expenditure on sugar-sweetened beverages (-0.02; 95% CI, -0.04, - 0.01) and processed red meat (-0.05; 95% CI, -0.08, -0.02) showed a positive association with increased county-level life expectancy. These findings may inform a nutritional measure against premature death and stagnation of increase in life expectancy.