In this Article

• Are highly processed foods addictive?
• What makes processed foods meet addiction criteria?
• How do refined carbohydrates and fats affect the brain?
• How do HPFs compare to tobacco in public health impact?
• What can individuals and policymakers do to address the addiction?

For decades, public health efforts focused on reducing tobacco use, recognizing its addictive nature and devastating health impacts. Another pervasive substance that may demand similar scrutiny is highly processed foods (HPFs). With growing evidence that HPFs can meet the scientific criteria for addiction, it’s time to consider their role in the escalating global health crisis.

Defining Addiction: Lessons from Tobacco

The journey to labeling tobacco as addictive was not straightforward. In 1988, the Surgeon General’s report established criteria for addiction based on compulsive use, psychoactivity, reinforcement, and cravings. These benchmarks helped society reframe smoking from a choice to a chemically driven dependency. Understanding addiction as more than just substance use but as a behavioral phenomenon paved the way for effective public health policies.

HPFs, much like tobacco, do not intoxicate in the traditional sense. Yet, they trigger behaviors and biological responses that mirror drug addiction. This is not about demonizing food but understanding how industrial processing manipulates our biological wiring.

The Science of Highly Processed Foods

Highly processed foods are not the bread or soup your grandmother made. They are engineered products designed for maximum convenience, taste, and shelf life. These foods typically contain refined carbohydrates, added fats, and sensory additives that amplify flavor and texture, making them irresistibly palatable. Examples include soft drinks like cola, chips like Doritos, cookies like Oreo, and frozen pizzas—staples of modern diets but far removed from whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains.

These foods are crafted to stimulate the brain’s reward system in ways natural foods cannot. By combining refined sugars and fats, HPFs deliver a calorie-dense, rapidly absorbed energy source that hijacks the gut-brain axis. The result? Cravings, overeating, and a cycle of dependency are eerily similar to the one fueled by nicotine in cigarettes.

Meeting Addiction Criteria

Applying the Surgeon General’s addiction criteria to HPFs reveals striking similarities to substances like tobacco.

Compulsive use is a hallmark of addiction; despite the health consequences—obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease—many people struggle to reduce their intake of HPFs. Cravings often override the best intentions. Consider the alarming rates of diet-related diseases and the common failure of interventions like bariatric surgery when HPFs remain in the diet.

Binge eating disorder, often centered on HPFs, exemplifies compulsive behavior. Unlike minimally processed foods (MPFs), which are rarely consumed in excess, these foods dominate episodes of out-of-control consumption.

Like addictive drugs, HPFs alter mood and behavior. They deliver a dopamine rush similar to nicotine or alcohol, albeit through less dramatic mechanisms. Research shows that eating HPFs can trigger feelings of euphoria and pleasure, which reinforce the cycle of consumption. For individuals with addictive-like eating tendencies, the appeal of HPFs is powerful.

Reinforcement refers to how rewarding a substance is, driving repeated behavior. HPFs, designed with precise sugar, fat, and salt combinations, are incredibly reinforcing. This means that the brain's reward system is activated when we consume these foods, making us more likely to seek them out again. Studies have shown that both children and adults will work harder to access HPFs than healthier options, even when not hungry. The food industry exploits this reinforcement by creating products people want and feel compelled to buy repeatedly.

The most commonly craved foods—chocolate, pizza, chips—are all HPFs. Their unique sensory profiles, crafted with additives, make them hard to resist. These cravings often occur even when individuals are satiated, indicating that the desire is less about nutritional needs and more about psychological and physiological triggers. The overlap between the neural responses to HPFs and addictive substances underscores their addictive potential.

Impact on Society

The health consequences of HPFs are staggering. Obesity rates have tripled globally since the 1970s, and diet-related diseases now rival smoking as the leading cause of preventable death. Yet, the problem goes beyond individual health.

The economic burden of treating these diseases is immense, straining healthcare systems worldwide. The cost of treating obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, which are often linked to the consumption of HPFs, is a significant portion of healthcare spending. Meanwhile, the food industry continues profiting, employing strategies that Big Tobacco perfected. Targeted marketing, especially toward children, ensures a steady stream of lifelong consumers. Vulnerable populations, including low-income communities, face disproportionate exposure to HPFs due to their affordability and availability, perpetuating cycles of poor health and economic disadvantage.

Future Research and Solutions

While the evidence linking HPFs to addictive behavior is compelling, gaps remain. For instance, more studies are needed to pinpoint the exact mechanisms that make these foods addictive. Can certain minimally processed foods, under specific conditions, also trigger addictive responses? Understanding these nuances could guide reformulation efforts to make foods healthier without compromising palatability.

Policy interventions could play a crucial role, much like they did with tobacco. Taxes on sugary drinks, restrictions on marketing to children, and more explicit labeling could help shift consumption patterns. Public health campaigns emphasizing whole foods over processed options can empower consumers to make better choices.

At the same time, individuals need tools to recognize and minimize HPFs in their diets. Encouraging home-cooked meals and providing access to affordable, minimally processed foods can help counter the dominance of HPFs in the food supply.

The classification of HPFs as addictive substances has profound implications. It reframes the narrative, shifting the responsibility from individuals to systemic change. Just as society came to recognize smoking as more than a personal choice, we must understand that HPFs are not merely indulgences—they are products designed to exploit our biology for profit.

Policymakers, healthcare providers, and educators all have roles to play in addressing this issue. Treating HPFs as a public health crisis allows us to advocate for changes that prioritize well-being over corporate interests.

Highly processed foods meet the criteria for addiction established by the Surgeon General’s report on tobacco. Their compulsive use, psychoactive effects, reinforcement, and cravings make them more than just unhealthy—they are engineered to keep us coming back for more.

As we face the dual epidemics of obesity and chronic disease, addressing HPFs is not optional—it is essential. The lessons of the tobacco wars remind us that change is possible, but only when we confront the industries and systems that fuel these crises. The time to act is now before another generation falls victim to the addiction hidden in plain sight.

About the Author

Robert Jennings is co-publisher of InnerSelf.com with his wife Marie T Russell. He attended the University of Florida, Southern Technical Institute, and the University of Central Florida with studies in real estate, urban development, finance, architectural engineering, and elementary education. He was a member of the US Marine Corps and The US Army having commanded a field artillery battery in Germany. He worked in real estate finance, construction and development for 25 years before starting InnerSelf.com in 1996.

InnerSelf is dedicated to sharing information that allows people to make educated and insightful choices in their personal life, for the good of the commons, and for the well-being of the planet. InnerSelf Magazine is in its 30+year of publication in either print (1984-1995) or online as InnerSelf.com. Please support our work.

 Creative Commons 4.0

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License. Attribute the author Robert Jennings, InnerSelf.com. Link back to the article This article originally appeared on InnerSelf.com

References:

1. Highly processed foods can be considered addictive substances based on established scientific criteria
2. The Hacking of the American Mind: The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains.
3. Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health

Article Recap

Highly processed foods meet criteria for addiction, including compulsive use, psychoactivity, reinforcement, and cravings. Engineered with refined carbohydrates and added fats, they hijack brain reward systems, creating dependency. These foods contribute to obesity and chronic diseases, paralleling tobacco in health impacts and industry practices. Addressing this crisis requires public health policies, reformulated products, and education to prioritize whole foods. Tackling this addiction could improve global health and reduce healthcare costs.

books_food