From ready-made meals to sugary snacks, ultra-processed foods have become a staple of modern diets.
But a new study from the University of Michigan, published in the journal Addiction, warns that these products may trigger addiction-like responses in the brain.
Researchers found that about 12 percent of older adults in the U.S. meet the clinical criteria for addiction to ultra-processed foods.
Among women aged 50 to 64, the rate rises to over 20 percent.
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"The percentages we observed in these data far exceed the rates of older adults with problematic use of other addictive substances, such as alcohol and tobacco", said Ashley Gearhardt, a psychology professor who led the study.
When eating feels like a high
Using the Yale Food Addiction Scale, scientists evaluated symptoms such as intense cravings, withdrawal, and repeated failed attempts to cut back.
Brain imaging revealed changes in regions related to appetite and reward, particularly in those who consumed the most processed products.
The findings suggest that combinations of refined carbohydrates, fats, and artificial flavors can stimulate neural pathways in ways similar to addictive substances, leading to compulsive eating even when people aren’t physically hungry.
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A gender divide and misleading marketing
The study also uncovered a sharp gender gap: 17 percent of women showed signs of food addiction compared with 7.5 percent of men.
Researchers believe that marketing may play a role, as many “light” or “healthy” snack products are targeted primarily at women but are still heavily processed and engineered to be irresistible.
Sources: El Confidencial, and Addiction.
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