Systematic review and meta-analysis: Association of a pre-illness Western dietary pattern with the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease

Imbibing the habit of consuming a Western diet may set an individual on the path to developing inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

This study synthesized evidence from previously published studies that investigated whether an association exists between eating a Western diet and the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. A total of 9 studies that examined data and evidence from 1,491 patients with inflammatory bowel disease and 53,089 individuals without a history of the disease were considered eligible for this meta-analysis.

Researchers found out that the likelihood of receiving a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease increased markedly with the consumption of Western diet. This 2020 study documented that eating a Western diet may put an individual at risk of developing ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.