Millions of Americans have developed a dependency on hard-to-break habits, and experts caution that this could lead to future generations facing chronic health issues.

A significant portion of the American diet is comprised of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which are loaded with excessive fats, sugars, emulsifiers, and preservatives. Researchers have noted that a considerable number of Americans have developed a reliance on these foods.

Determining if someone is ‘addicted’ involves asking questions like, ‘Have you ever craved these foods so intensely that you couldn’t focus on anything else?’ and ‘Did you experience symptoms such as anxiety, headaches, or fatigue when you refrained from eating these foods? And did consuming them relieve those symptoms?’

A study involving individuals aged 50 to 80 found that roughly one in eight exhibited signs of addiction to ultra-processed foods, which are closely linked to obesity, diabetes, depression, and heart disease.

For both genders, the prevalence of ultra-processed food addiction (UPFA) was higher among those aged 50 to 64 compared to those aged 65 to 80.

Ultra-processed foods became a staple in American diets beginning in the 1970s, coinciding with the teenage years of individuals now aged 50 to 64. The researchers focused on older adults in their latest study because they were among the first generations to be significantly exposed to a diet dominated by UPFs throughout much of their lives.

Researchers warn that because younger generations have been raised on a diet of ultra-processed foods, their brains are being wired for addiction from an early age, setting them on a path toward severe health consequences later in life. 

Eduardo Oliver, a nutrition coach based in New York City, told Daily Mail: ‘I definitely believe we’re standing at the edge of a health tsunami, fueled very much by decades of ultra-processed food consumption.’

The latest report by psychologists at the University of Michigan was part of the larger University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA), a recurring survey of American adults 50 and up on health, healthcare and health policy issues.

They specifically surveyed people enrolled in that poll. In the end, they had responses from 2,000 adults with an average age of 63 using the 13-question questionnaire that applies the diagnostic criteria used for addictive drugs to measure addictive responses to ultra-processed foods.

The questions and answers were used to assess the frequency of behaviors such as loss of control when eating, intense cravings, withdrawal, tolerance and continued use despite noticeable negative effects.

Researchers used brief questions to assess health. Participants self-reported their weight, rated their physical and mental health on a five-point scale, and indicated how frequently they felt isolated.

The study, published in the journal Addiction, found that 12 percent of US adults ages 50 to 80 met the criteria for UPFA, equating to about 13 million Americans. 

The prevalence was nearly double among adults aged 50 to 64, at 16 percent, compared to eight percent among those ages 65 to 80. 

This addiction was significantly more common in women, at 17 percent, than in men (7.5 percent), with the highest prevalence of all, 21 percent, observed in women ages 50 to 64.

UPFA was strongly linked to self-perceived weight status. Men who described themselves as overweight were 19 times more likely to have UPFA, while women who described themselves as overweight were 11 times more likely. 

Those reporting poor mental health were also far more likely to have UPFA, with men four times more likely and women three times more likely.

Similarly, individuals who felt socially isolated were about 3.4 times more likely to meet the UPFA criteria. A significant link was also found with physical health, as those in fair or poor health were roughly two to three times more likely to have UPFA.

Researchers said: ‘The younger cohort were children and teens in the decades when exposure to UPF was increasing, whereas the older cohort was in their 20s and 30s.

‘Exposure to addictive substances earlier in development has been associated with an increased risk of developing a future [substance use disorder].’

They added that future generations born in the late 80s to today, who will have spent their entire lives in a food environment saturated with these products, are likely to have even higher rates of this addiction and its related health problems.

Oliver, who is the CEO of supplement marketplace Tribe Organics, added: ‘Our healthcare system is already struggling with the burden of chronic disease, and we’re not well-prepared for the surge that’s coming. 

‘The UPF-exposed generation is unique due to their overall exposure being so protracted; decades of poor diet increase the likelihood of conditions occurring earlier, progressing faster, and occurring in bunches.’ 

The flood of UPFs into the food market starting in the 70s has mirrored the rising rate of obesity in the US since then, according to tracking by the government-run National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES). 

In the early 1970s, American adult and childhood obesity rates were below 17 percent and five percent, respectively. Today, roughly 42 percent of Americans are overweight or obese.

A diet high in ultra-processed foods poses a significant threat to brain development at every critical stage of development. 

Research shows that during pivotal windows of growth, including pregnancy, childhood and adolescence, these foods can stunt brain development, leading to lasting consequences, including learning and memory difficulties, a higher risk of mental health issues and a predisposition for future health problems. 

With ultra-processed foods making up more than half of the calories in some diets, experts warn that early exposure could lead to lifelong consequences for cognitive health and mental well-being.

A growing body of research links ultra-processed foods to serious long-term health consequences for people of all ages.

A controlled study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) demonstrated that these foods contribute to overeating, finding that people consumed approximately 500 more calories per day when on an ultra-processed diet compared to an unprocessed one, even when meal portions were matched. This directly contributes to weight gain.

A large French study revealed that the risk of type 2 diabetes climbs by 15 percent for every 10 percent increase in the proportion of ultra-processed foods in a person’s diet.

Beyond weight gain and diabetes, UPF-heavy diets can drive up blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels, leading to high blood pressure, heart attacks and stroke.

Research also points to an increased risk of certain cancers, particularly those of the digestive system, while large-scale studies have shown that high UPF intake is linked to a greater likelihood of premature death from all causes.