Chips and other fast food cause severe food addiction
The prevalence of food addiction in the world reaches 14% in adults and 12% in children, according to a generalized analysis of more than 280 case studies conducted in 36 countries. Researchers concluded that addiction to products of deep industrial processing (chips, snacks, sweets, pastries, ice cream, etc.) is comparable to the prevalence of alcohol and nicotine addiction. The results of the study are published in the British Medical Journal."At the same time, the level of hidden addiction in children is unprecedented. And in populations with certain clinical diagnoses, the prevalence of food addiction is as high as 32% in obese people who have undergone bariatric surgery and more than 50% in those with eating disorders. Food addiction leads to numerous failures in the psycho-emotional sphere - neural dysfunction associated with the mechanism of pleasure and reward, impulsivity, and impaired regulation of emotions, as well as deterioration of physical and mental health and reduced quality of life", - stated the authors of the article.
As the study showed, the most risky in terms of addiction ultra-processed products (we call them products of deep industrial processing), which contain refined carbohydrates and added fats. These include sweets, baked goods and snacks of all kinds, including salty snacks.
"These types of foods have the strongest impact on behavioral indicators of addiction, such as excessive consumption, loss of control over the amount eaten, and strong cravings. Moreover, people continue to consume them, even if they know about the negative consequences and observe them in themselves," the authors of the publication note.
The effect of such food on the psyche is expressed in the fact that refined carbohydrates or fats cause a surge of dopamine in certain parts of the brain, similar to those observed during the use of nicotine and alcohol.
"The combination of refined carbohydrates and fats often found in ultra-processed foods appears to have a superaddictive effect on brain reward systems that exceeds the effects of either macronutrient alone, which may increase the addictive potential of these foods," the study authors write.
Flavor additives commonly used in the food industry may also contribute to addiction. Today, almost all industrial foods contain ingredients that enhance sweet and salty flavors, as well as texturizing agents that improve mouthfeel. "By enhancing the appeal of such foods, additives may act as potent amplifiers of the effects of calories on the gut," the study authors note.
The speed at which refined carbohydrates and fats are absorbed in the gut may also influence their ability to be addictive. This effect shows up well when analyzing the way drugs and substances that affect the brain more quickly are administered. For example, smoking cigarettes, which delivers nicotine to the brain quickly, is more addictive than using a nicotine transdermal patch with a slow release of the active ingredient. This is the basis for the principle of substitution therapy.
Scientists do not give specific advice, but the conclusion is self-evident: simply prepared home-cooked food with minimal use of sugar and fat, as well as all sorts of chemical additives (e.g., flavor enhancers, thickeners, colorants, etc.) is the way to go.
"The food matrix in ultra-processed foods is altered and they are digested quickly, potentially allowing them to affect the brain faster. The intact nutritional matrix of minimally processed foods slows their rate of consumption and reduces bioavailability," the authors of the publication explain.