NEW DELHI– A new study has raised alarm over the addictive potential of ultra-processed foods like chips, cookies, and soda, warning that these popular snacks can activate brain responses similar to those seen in substance-use disorders such as addiction to alcohol or cocaine.
Published in the journal Nature Medicine, the study reviewed data from nearly 300 studies conducted across 36 countries. The findings strongly suggest that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can hijack the brain’s reward system—prompting cravings, compulsive use, and continued consumption despite harmful consequences.
“People aren’t becoming addicted to apples or brown rice,” said lead author Ashley Gearhardt, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan. “They’re struggling with industrial products specifically engineered to hit the brain like a drug—rapidly, intensely, and repeatedly.”
Researchers pointed out that despite growing scientific consensus, ultra-processed food addiction still lacks formal recognition in diagnostic systems like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which already includes conditions like caffeine and nitrous oxide use disorders based on far less evidence.
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