A recent study has uncovered that ultra-processed foods (UPFs), including items like potato chips and ice cream, possess addictive properties akin to nicotine, cocaine, or heroin.
The study, which examined data from 281 studies conducted across 36 different countries, revealed that a startling 14% of adults may be addicted to UPFs.
UPFs are food products subjected to extensive processing utilizing industrial techniques and ingredients, encompassing sugary beverages, processed meats, and packaged snacks. These items are often characterized by high levels of unhealthy fats, sugar, and salt.
According to the study’s authors, the combination of refined carbohydrates and fats commonly present in UPFs appears to have a synergistic impact on brain reward systems, exceeding the effects of each macronutrient separately. This phenomenon may enhance the addictive potential of these foods.
“The mixture of refined carbohydrates and fats often found in UPFs seems to have a supra-additive influence on brain reward systems that is above either macro nutrients alone, which could raise the addictive potential of these foods,” Gearhardt and the study’s authors wrote in their newly published the results in The BMJ.
Furthermore, the study disclosed that UPFs are more likely to induce cravings and lead to continued consumption, even in the face of potential adverse health consequences.
Experts are raising concerns about the addictive nature of UPFs in light of their association with various chronic illnesses, including obesity, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Consequently, there is a call for increased awareness of the addictive qualities of UPFs and initiatives to help individuals reduce their consumption.
