Many ultra-processed foods may trigger addictive behaviours similar to tobacco products because they are deliberately engineered to stimulate the brain’s reward system, according to a new study.

The study, published in The Milbank Quarterly, argues that packaged snacks, sugary drinks, ready-to-eat meals, and many fast foods are designed to encourage repeated consumption in much the same way cigarettes were developed to keep users hooked.

Researchers from the University of Michigan, Harvard University, and Duke University said the findings challenge the long-standing view that unhealthy eating is simply a matter of poor self-control.

Lead author, Prof. Ashley Gearhardt, a clinical psychologist at the University of Michigan, said many ultra-processed foods are specifically formulated to maximise pleasure and promote habitual consumption.

According to the researchers, the products share several characteristics with tobacco, including being engineered to intensify reward signals in the brain while being heavily marketed to consumers.

ALSO READ: Early menopause may

This post was originally published on this site.