Diverticulitis — a painful and potentially serious inflammation of the colon — is often blamed on age or genes. But a new study suggests your daily habits may be even more important.
In a large, long-term study published in Gut, researchers found that five lifestyle habits — eating a high-fiber, low–red meat diet; exercising regularly; maintaining a healthy weight; and not smoking — can cut your risk of diverticulitis by up to 50%, regardless of your genetic predisposition.
The study analyzed data from more than 179,000 adults over 20 years, with additional validation across multiple cohorts. People who followed all five healthy habits were half as likely to develop diverticulitis compared to those who followed none. Even among those with the highest genetic risk, lifestyle still made a powerful difference.
The five factors and their effects:
Healthy BMI (<25): Being overweight increased risk by 32%; obesity raised it by 44%.
Not smoking: Former and current smokers were 17% and 13% more likely to develop diverticulitis, respectively.
Regular physical activity: Reduced risk by 16%.
High fiber intake: Linked to a 14% lower risk.
Low red/processed meat intake: High intake was associated with a 9% higher risk.
Each additional healthy habit lowered risk further. And among those with the highest genetic risk score, people who practiced four or five healthy behaviors still had about 50% lower risk than those who didn’t.
“Our data provide consistent evidence from multiple data sets indicating that adherence to a healthy lifestyle is linked to a reduced risk of developing diverticulitis, irrespective of one’s genetic predisposition,” the authors wrote.
While the study was observational and can’t prove cause and effect, it was validated across four major data sets and confirmed in diverse populations.
The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the American Gastroenterological Association, the American Diabetes Association, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Massachusetts General Hospital and the American Cancer Society.