Who has conducted the study?
Have you ever wanted to eat ice cream and potato chips daily? Well, a study found that it is a kind of addiction. Experts say ultra-processed foods (UPF), like ice cream, potato chips, soft drinks, etc., are just as addictive as nicotine and other drugs.
Researchers, including Ashley Gearhardt from the University of Michigan, conducted this study. They put their findings in a journal called The BMJ (earlier known as the British Medical Journal).
What does the study say?
The study found that many grown-ups and kids can become addicted to UPFs. This addiction is a bit like what happens with drugs and nicotine.
People with food addictions have similar issues as those with other addictions. It can mess with the brain, make it hard to control feelings, and harm physical and mental health, leading to a lower quality of life.
Refined carbohydrates and fats trigger dopamine release in the brain, similar to addictive drugs like nicotine and alcohol. Due to this kind of similarity, foods with high levels of refined carbohydrates or added fats can be very addictive.
Other research has shown that sugary or fatty foods can make it hard to pick healthier options. This can lead to problems like obesity.
Can anyone get addicted to such foods?
It's not the same for everyone. Some people can eat a few potato chips and be just fine, but others might have trouble stopping and get addicted. So, we all, including you, must be careful about how much we eat things like potato chips, cold drinks, and ice cream. It's okay to have them sometimes, but we should be careful not to eat too much.
Eating too much of anything can be a problem and may make you addicted. Some scientists say these foods should have a label that warns everyone they can be addictive. This can warn people and also help reduce the addiction level.
