Study compares food addiction to substance use disorder

Candy, ice cream, and potato chips are delicious and consumed by people all over the world, but are they as addictive as some drugs?

Researchers from the United States, Brazil, and Spain looked at the addictive properties of highly processed foods and found that these foods are highly beneficial, attractive, and consumable. Researchers found that some behaviors around highly processed foods fit criteria for a substance use disorder.

Researchers found that 14 percent of adults and 12 percent of children had an addiction to highly processed foods that met the definition of a substance use disorder.

The study noted that the problem is not unique to the United States. These foods are very popular in low-income countries because they are easy to access.

Ashley Gearhart, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, said it is important to understand the addiction to these highly processed foods globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. It will take bold steps to change these and other economic and structural factors that drive people toward highly processed foods.

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Gearhart and others published their findings in the British Medical Journal.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, “People with substance use disorders may have distorted thinking and behavior.” “Changes in the structure and function of the brain are what cause people to experience cravings, personality changes, abnormal movements, and other behaviors. Brain imaging studies show changes in areas of the brain involved in judgment, decision-making, “Learning is related to memory. And the control of behavior.”

The researchers noted that one of the problems with addiction to highly processed foods is that unlike smoking, drinking or opiates, people cannot stop eating the food.

The research noted that foods that are generally high in fat and carbohydrates are more addictive than foods that only contain carbohydrates or fat. For example, apples are high in carbohydrates but very low in fat. Conversely, salmon has no carbohydrates but contains high levels of fat. According to research, none of these foods are considered highly addictive.

On the other hand, a chocolate bar has high levels of carbohydrates and fat, which makes it highly addictive.

The researchers also noted that minimally processed foods are usually low in carbohydrates and fat, and therefore not addictive.

“There is consistent, converging support for the validity and clinical relevance of ultra-processed food addiction,” Gearhart said.

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