A new study reveals that some junk foods and other highly processed foods can be just as addictive as drugs.
Researcher, Dr. Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion says these foods trigger the same response.
What makes a substance addictive? DiFeliceantonio tells KMOX's Total Information AM, it goes back to criterion established by the U.S. Surgeon General on nicotine. "That includes compulsive use -- you tried to stop but couldn't. Another criteria is psychoactivity... ...which means that the main effect is in the brain. The third criteria is that they are really reinforcing, which means you would do a lot or you would risk things to be able to get them. And the final criteria was that it elicited really strong urges or cravings." She says if you pass your favorite fast food place, or see an advertisement you feel a really strong urge to consume those foods, you may be experiencing addiction.
What makes junk food different? It's ultra-processed. DiFeliceantonio explains "if you're in a grocery store and you're holding a crinkly package... it's probably an ultra-processed food. You know, all that unpronounceable stuff on the back of that ingredient label, they are produced by processes that are not available to you. So things like really high heat or extrusion."
What happens in the body? Addictive drugs increase the neurotransmitter dopamine. So do sweet, salty, fatty food. "So what we do know is that these foods affect the same areas of the brain as addictive substances, you know, really addictive substances work because they activate the same areas of the brain as food." DiFeliceantonio points out, people have these feelings for things like donuts and not bananas.
It's not about pleasure. It's more like a signal that says "Hey, pay attention! Hey, do this again!" She says people consuming some of these foods, report they you might not actually be enjoying it in the moment.
How do we avoid addiction to ultra-processed junk food? Study researchers says the challenge in avoiding these foods may be greater than avoiding drugs. "If you are really trying to cut down on drinking, you would probably choose, you know, not to go to the bar with your friends," DiFeliceantonio explains. Yet we all have to eat. "Our environment is not set up to stop. You know, they're everywhere. You can't check out of the grocery store without having a whole line of ultra processed products before you can get to the checkout counter. They're advertised in places even like the gas station. Like when you're pumping gas, there's a screen there with food cues on it." So that when people try to avoid those foods, they fail "And I don't think people should really think of that as a personal failing, you know, like, oh, I lack will power or I lack this ability really, the environment is stacked against them."
@2023 Audacy (KMOX). All rights reserved.