Addictive food behavior: What symptoms does it manifest itself with?
One in seven adults and one in eight children have developed an addiction to ultra-processed foods (UPFs), according to a new international study.
Scientists are urging the labeling of some such products as “addictive”.
Recent studies have linked UPFs, such as ice cream, soft drinks and ready meals, to cancer, heart disease and weight gain.
Global consumption of ultra-processed foods has been growing rapidly in recent years, while in Britain and the United States they now account for more than half of the average diet.
What is food addiction also known as?
The researchers stress that the way some people consume these foods could meet the criteria for a diagnosis of addictive behavior.
Symptoms include craving, withdrawal and continued consumption despite consequences such as obesity and lower quality of life.
An analysis of 281 studies from 36 different countries, published in the scientific journal “BMJ”, found that “addiction to ultra-processed foods” occurs in 14% of adults and 12% of children. The scientists said that if certain foods high in carbohydrates and fats were officially categorized as “addictive”, it could help improve people’s health through policy changes.
“By recognizing that certain types of processed foods have the properties of addictive substances, we may be able to contribute to improving global health,” said Ashley Gerhard, author of the scientific study and professor of psychology at the University of Michigan in the US.
In this context, the researchers report that foods that provide high levels of refined carbohydrates or fats are very likely to be addictive. The speed with which these foods transport carbohydrates and fats to the gut could also play a role in their addictiveness.