A recent study suggests that people who do not eat meat may be less likely to reach the age of 100 compared to meat-eaters, particularly among older, underweight individuals. This finding, based on research involving more than 5,000 Chinese adults aged 80 and older, highlights how nutritional needs change with age.

• The study tracked participants in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey from 1998 to 2018.
• The lower likelihood of reaching 100 among non-meat eaters was only observed in underweight participants, with no such association in older adults of healthy weight.
• Including modest amounts of animal-source foods like fish, dairy, or eggs provided similar longevity outcomes to meat-eaters in older adults, suggesting their role in preventing undernutrition and muscle loss.