Millions of Americans Are Addicted to Ultra Processed Foods — Experts Want to Treat Them Like Drugs

Experts are arguing that some foods, like ultra-processed foods, should be classified as addictive, with dependency on them to be treated the same way smoking or other bad habits would.

In an editorial published in The BMJ on October 9th, a multinational group of experts suggest that reclassifying these foods may “stimulate research and shift attitudes to regulation.”

Foods with lots of refined carbohydrates or added fats, like sweets and salty snacks, are more likely to induce behaviors that are characteristic of addiction, they write. These include excessive consumption, cravings, and continuing to consume despite negative consequences. These foods also induce changes in the brain similar to those associated with more classical forms of addiction, like increasing the amount of dopamine. 

The authors cited previous research that indicates food addiction rates may be as high as 14% in adults and 12% in children — meaning millions of Americans across age groups are dependent on these usually-unhealthy foods.

Ultra-processed foods, defined as “industrially produced foods containing ingredients not available in home kitchens,” are the main source of these refined carbohydrates and added fats, the authors say. This is because while natural or minimally processed foods can contain carbohydrates or fat, it’s rare for them to have both, while it’s more common in ultra-processed foods. Common examples of these foods include breakfast cereals, frozen dinners, and snacks like potato chips.

These foods  also deliver carbohydrates and fats to the gut faster than their natural and minimally processed counterparts, which raises the risk of addiction. The speed at which an addictive substance is delivered affects just how addictive it is. An example the authors cite is how a quick-release cigarette delivers nicotine to the brain faster than a nicotine patch, making cigarettes more addictive than the patches despite containing the same substance. 

Artificial sweeteners and other additives present in ultra-processed foods are also a risk factor, as artificial sweeteners can further hasten the absorption of sugars by the gut. 

Despite the risks that come with food addiction, such as obesity or eating disorders like binge eating, the authors say that ultra processed foods are an important source of calories for many people, especially those for whom fresh and organic foods are simply too expensive. 

“Unique social justice issues need to be considered with [ultra processed food]addiction. Addictive drugs are not necessary for survival; eating is,” they say. 

These issues include how to reduce the prevalence of food insecurity and how to make minimally processed and organic foods more accessible. 

Classifying these foods as addictive may spur regulators to put more pressure on manufacturers of these foods to reduce industry methods that make their foods more “craveable” and limit their ability to market to children. 

“As past addiction epidemics have shown, multipronged action will be needed to address the factors that allow the spread of potentially addictive [foods]to occur unchecked,” they conclude.

The United States is currently facing what’s being called an “obesity epidemic,” and a study recently found that heart disease deaths caused in part by obesity have tripled since the turn of the century. Poor dietary choices, experts say, are contributing to the crisis.