Roughly 14 percent of adults and 12.5 percent of children may be addicted to ultra-processed foods, reports The Guardian. The findings have prompted some to push for labelling these products as addictive.
In the U.S. and U.K. consumption of ultra-processed products make up more than half the average diet.
Ultra-processed foods include many additives and ingredients that help increase the shelf-life and make the food manufacturing process more efficient. However, recent studies have linked key products and ingredients to adverse health outcomes.
According to The Guardian, researchers say that the way some people consume these foods could “meet the criteria for diagnosis of substance use disorder.” These behaviors include intense cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and less control over intake.
“There is converging and consistent support for the validity and clinical relevance of food addiction,” said Ashley Gearhardt, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan. “By acknowledging that certain types of processed foods have the properties of addictive substances, we may be able to help improve global health.”
Supporters of ultra-processed foods suggest that these products are being unfairly demonized. Full Story
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