According to a recent study, ultra-processed foods can be just as addictive as smoking. The researchers emphasized that people compulsively consume foods containing refined carbohydrates and added fats, experiencing a deep satisfaction comparable to that provided by nicotine.

The study, published in the BMJ, analyzed 281 studies in 36 countries and found that addiction to ultra-processed food was seen in 14% of adults and 12% of children, with rates for children “unprecedented”.

In Romania, according to the latest statistics, two out of three children eat sweets that fall into the category of ultra-processed foods every day. 22% of Romanian parents interviewed admitted that their children eat sweets even two or three times a day. And three out of ten parents said that fruits are not part of their children’s diet every day. Additionally, 43% of parents said their children drink soda once a week or more, and of those, 14% choose juice over water for hydration.

Ultra-processed foods are linked to the biochemical mechanisms of addiction, containing refined carbohydrates and fats that activate the brain’s reward system, similar to nicotine and alcohol.

What are ultra-processed foods?

Each food and drink can be classified according to the degree of industrial processing into one of the following categories:

– Unprocessed products: fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, fresh meat, eggs;

– Products with minimal processing: frozen vegetables, dried fruits, fresh meat cut into pieces; pasteurized or UHT milk;

– Processed food products: cheeses, bread, canned vegetables, processed meat (ham, salami, sausages);

– Semi-finished products: frozen pasta or lasagna, pasta sauces in jars, cake mixes;

– Ultra-processed foods: cakes and confectionery (packaged cakes, cookies, candies), fast food (hamburgers, french fries, frozen pizza), carbonated drinks and sweet juices, snack products (chips, waffles, sticks).

Ultra-processed foods are foods that have been subjected to an intensive industrial processing process. These foods contain a long list of ingredients, many of which are food additives, artificial flavors, preservatives, and sweeteners, to improve the taste, appearance, and shelf life of the products.

Ultra-processed foods are manufactured using advanced industrial technologies and are high in refined carbohydrates, saturated fat, salt and added sugar, but low in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Thus, they are high in calories but provide few essential nutrients.

These products are designed to be convenient and have a long shelf life.

Why ultra-processed food is addictive

The Yale Food Dependence Scale assesses 11 criteria for substance use disorder symptoms, including loss of control over consumption, severe cravings, social withdrawal, and continued use despite negative consequences.

The authors of the study noted that ultra-processed foods are associated with “biopsychological mechanisms of addiction and serious clinical problems.”

Among people with certain clinical diagnoses, the Yale Food Addiction Scale found a prevalence of food addiction of 32% in obese people who underwent bariatric surgery and more than 50% in those with binge eating.

Food addiction, according to the Yale scale, is also associated with underlying mechanisms of addiction, such as reward-related neural dysfunction, impulsivity, and emotional imbalance, as well as poor physical and mental health and lower quality of life.

Sweets and salty snacks, the most addictive potential

Emphasizing that not all foods can be addictive, the study authors identified several types of food with potential for addiction, according to the Yale scale. These include foods high in refined carbohydrates or fat, such as sweets and salty snacks.

These are the products that have the strongest behavioral impact on addiction, such as excessive consumption, loss of control over consumption, intense desire to consume and continued use despite negative consequences.

According to researchers, eating foods high in refined carbohydrates or added fats can increase dopamine levels to the same degree as consuming addictive substances such as nicotine or alcohol. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a brain chemical that plays a critical role in signaling and regulating well-being and pleasure. An increase in dopamine levels can cause feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.

The qualities of ultra-processed food are addictive

The authors of the study stated that ultra-processed foods are the main source of refined carbohydrates and added fats in the modern diet. And the combination of refined carbohydrates and fat seems to be super-addictive in the brain’s reward system, the study authors note.

In addition, the rate at which ultra-processed foods release carbohydrates and fats into the intestinal tract can affect the degree of addiction associated with these foods. Their ability to quickly provide energy and satisfaction can activate the brain’s reward system. The same thing happens with cigarettes: smoking causes a rapid release of nicotine, which is why it is addictive, unlike a delayed-release nicotine patch.

According to the study, many of these products contain additives designed to enhance the sweet and salty taste. Some of these additives, designed to enhance the consumer’s taste, are similar to those found in other products such as cigarettes, including flavoring chemicals, sugar, cocoa, menthol, and alkaline salt.

However, the authors of the study noted that there are still unanswered questions on this topic. They also noted that, unlike cigarettes, some specific ingredients, such as tobacco, that have been directly linked to addiction, have not been identified in potentially addictive products. In addition, refined carbohydrates and fats, while not acting directly on the brain’s reward systems, appear to activate these systems in the same way that substances such as nicotine and ethanol do.

A combination of carbohydrates and fats

The combination of carbohydrates and fats can be addictive for several reasons. First, refined carbohydrates have a high glycemic index, which means they are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, causing a sudden spike in glucose levels. This increase in glucose activates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with reward and pleasure in the brain. Thus, this release of dopamine can create a sense of well-being and satisfaction, which promotes the desire to eat these foods again.

Second, the combination of carbohydrates and fats provides a dense source of energy. This means that the body receives a significant amount of calories in a short period of time, which can increase feelings of satiety and satisfaction.

Additionally, ultra-processed foods that have been processed to contain refined carbohydrates and added fat may be less filling and less nutritious. Thus, people may overeat these foods in an attempt to satisfy hunger and gain satisfaction, leading to compulsive eating. “It makes evolutionary sense that the human body would want to eat foods high in refined carbohydrates and added fat — meaning more fat is stored for survival with less effort. Ultimately, survival is the body’s top priority,” nutritionist Carlos Fragoso told Medical News Today.

The nutrition expert noted that it’s no coincidence that there are few foods that naturally contain carbohydrates and fats or are minimally processed, but ultra-processed foods linked to addiction contain large amounts of both ingredients. According to the specialist, the companies that produce these products know what they are doing. “For these companies, the more addictive the food, the bigger the profit,” the nutritionist concluded, noting that the social, economic and structural factors that contribute to the widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods and their addictive potential remain serious public concerns. health.

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