Does Junk Food Cause Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?

Could junk food really cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? There has been a 114% rise in cases of IBD (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) resulting in hospital admission amongst young people in the United Kingdom over the years between 2003 and 2014. The steep rise has caused speculation as to what could be behind it, and if there is something in the environment that is contributing to the development of these diseases.

We can put our arms around the scope of the problem, but, to put it simply, scientists still don't know what exactly causes IBD.

What We Do Know

IBD is in our genes — to date more than 100 genes have been identified as playing some part in the development of IBD. The key that we're missing is the trigger: the thing or things in the environment that "turn on" the IBD.

What Does Junk Food Mean?

Many in the IBD patient community were upset by the implication that people with IBD are unhealthy eaters, and that a poor diet was what caused their IBD. Some patients were quick to point out that they ate healthy diets — even vegan or vegetarian — before their diagnosis. Others wondered about very young children, even babies, who were diagnosed with IBD and who would not have been exposed to years of eating a poor diet.

When one thinks of "junk food," certain foods come to mind: potato chips, soda pop, ice cream, and other foods that are high in fat and have no, or very little, nutritional value. These are typically thought of as Western foods, and it's true that people in non-Western countries have been consuming more of these foods in recent years.

What About Processed Foods?

"Junk food" is a vague term and it's unclear what was meant by that term in regards to the development of IBD. A more accurate term to use when discussing diet and health might be "processed foods." However, even that term could be misleading because not all processed foods are unhealthy. Frozen vegetables and yogurt, for example, are examples of processed foods that are still considered healthy foods (when they are made without any additives). Foods with additives are sometimes referred to as "heavily" processed, while flash-frozen vegetables or fresh juices might be called "minimally" processed.

The jury is still out on whether heavily processed foods could contribute to the development of IBD. Artificial sweeteners could, arguably, be considered a highly processed food. One paper published in 2012 points to the increased use of artificial sweeteners such as saccharin and sucralose as being a potential cause for the rise in IBD diagnoses. The effect of these sweeteners on the bacteria found in the intestinal tract is thought to be the mechanism of action.

A Word From Verywell

There is still no consensus on how food additives, junk food, or heavily processed foods can impact the development of IBD or the course of IBD. Good nutrition is important to everyone — and is especially critical for people who have IBD and who may already be at risk for malnutrition or poor absorption of vitamins and minerals from foods. It is fair to say that eating as healthy a diet as possible is of a great benefit in the prevention of many diseases, and can help improve the course of some health conditions. No matter what is eventually concluded regarding the impact of "junk food" on IBD or other diseases, it's important to remember that people with IBD do not bring their disease on themselves.