Comprehensive analysis of the relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and food addiction at one-year follow-up in older adults with metabolic syndrome - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #food addiction
- #metabolic syndrome
- #ultra-processed foods
- Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may have addictive properties due to high palatability, sugars, salt, fats, and caloric density.
- Study evaluated the link between UPFs consumption and food addiction (FA) in older adults with metabolic syndrome.
- Participants included 429 Mediterranean older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome.
- FA was assessed using the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, and UPFs were categorized by the NOVA system.
- Higher UPFs consumption was linked to worse FA status at baseline.
- Reducing UPFs intake after one year was associated with improved FA symptoms.
- Individuals with the highest decreases in UPFs consumption had a higher likelihood of FA improvement (OR = 1.67, p = 0.040).
- Findings suggest reducing UPFs may help improve FA symptoms.
- Future research should explore long-term effects of dietary quality on FA and include populations with higher UPFs consumption.