Study confirms highly processed foods linked to addictive eating

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A new U-M study confirms what has long been suspected: highly processed foods like chocolate, pizza and French fries are among the most addictive.

This is one of the first studies to examine specifically which foods may be implicated in “food addiction,” which has become of growing interest to scientists and consumers in light of the obesity epidemic.

Previous studies in animals conclude that highly processed foods, or foods with added fat or refined carbohydrates (like white flour and sugar), may be capable of triggering addictive-like eating behavior. Clinical studies in humans have observed that some individuals meet the criteria for substance dependence when the substance is food.

Despite highly processed foods generally known to be highly tasty and preferred, it is unknown whether these types of foods can elicit addiction-like responses in humans, nor is it known which specific foods produce these responses, said Ashley Gearhardt, assistant professor of psychology.

Unprocessed foods, with no added fat or refined carbohydrates like brown rice and salmon, were not associated with addictive-like eating behavior.

Individuals with symptoms of food addiction or with higher body mass indexes reported greater problems with highly processed foods, suggesting some may be particularly sensitive to the possible “rewarding” properties of these foods, said Erica Schulte, psychology doctoral student and the study’s lead author.

“If properties of some foods are associated with addictive eating for some people, this may impact nutrition guidelines, as well as public policy initiatives such as marketing these foods to children,” Schulte said.

Nicole Avena, assistant professor of pharmacology and systems therapeutics at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, and a co-author on the study, explained the significance of the findings.

“This is a first step towards identifying specific foods, and properties of foods, which can trigger this addictive response,” she said.

“This could help change the way we approach obesity treatment. It may not be a simple matter of ‘cutting back’ on certain foods, but rather, adopting methods used to curtail smoking, drinking and drug use.”

Future research should examine whether addictive foods are capable of triggering changes in brain circuitry and behavior like drugs of abuse, the researchers said.

The findings appear in the current issue of PLOS ONE.

Comments

  1. Bonnie Clark
    on February 19, 2015 at 8:45 am

    This is something I have always known. The problem is the food manufacturers and our government. They know what all takes place. They know this has caused health issues for the common folk-for many years. And as a result, many types of health issues that lead us to cancers, heart disease and many others. I won’t even touch upon the GMO controversy. And our government has audacity to complain about the rising costs of healthcare-like it is our fault! Who is creating these health care issues? Something to ponder.

  2. Cindy Glovinsky
    on February 19, 2015 at 10:12 am

    For people who believe that they are food addicts, Overeaters Anonymous, a Twelve-Step program modeled on AA, can be helpful. For meetings in the Ann Arbor area, go to http://a2oa.org/.

  3. Katherine Klykylo
    on February 19, 2015 at 10:43 am

    Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) is another 12-step group for those with an addiction to food.
    foodaddicts.org

  4. Sanda Ionescu
    on February 19, 2015 at 11:03 am

    I agree with the findings, and they really are not new.
    But can someone please explain why chocolate counts as a highly processed food? Yes it does have a certain amount of sugar, but it’s really not “highly processed”, it’s a very simple and basic recipe, does not have artificial ingredients, and it’s centuries old…

  5. Jennifer Sporer
    on February 19, 2015 at 11:11 am

    Thanks, Cindy and Katherine, for sharing the information on resources.

  6. Jiaxing Li
    on February 19, 2015 at 5:22 pm

    Interesting findings but not enough. It is an association, not a causal relationship. In science, it is far from enough to make a move based on an link

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