Dilek Sivri ∙ Elif Çelik ∙ Ayşe Derya Bayazıt ∙ Makbule Gezmen Karadağ

https://cdn.nutrition.org/article/S2475-2991(26)00497-X/fulltext

From the Abstract: Ultra-processed foods are associated with adverse health outcomes and may trigger addictive biological and behavioral responses. This review aims to examine the association between ultra-processed food consumption and Food Addiction symptoms and addictive eating behaviors.

Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is consistently associated with greater food addiction symptoms and addictive eating behaviors. Individuals reporting more food addiction symptoms, irrespective of formal diagnostic status, tend to consume higher amounts of ultra-processed foods. Additives used in ultra-processed foods may enhance palatability compared to minimally processed foods, potentially reinforcing addictive-like eating patterns.