A surprising 12% of older Americans are addicted to ultra-processed foods—a rate that surpasses alcohol or tobacco addiction in this age group.
For years, the concept of food addiction has been controversial. Now, a growing body of scientific evidence confirms what many have long suspected: ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can trigger genuine addictive responses similar to substance-use disorders.
Recent research published in the journal Addiction reveals the startling prevalence of this condition among older Americans, suggesting we’re facing a public health crisis that has flown under the radar for decades.
What is Ultra-processed food addiction?
Medically, UPF addiction isn’t about being addicted to all food, but specifically to industrial food products engineered to be hyper-rewarding. These include chips, cookies, soda, fast foods, and other items packed with refined carbohydrates, added fats, salt, and artificial additives.
Researchers apply the same clinical criteria used to diagnose substance-use disorders to identify UPF addiction. This includes symptoms like:
Intense cravings for specific ultra-processed foods
Loss of control over consumption
Continued use despite negative physical or psychological consequences
Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down
Withdrawal symptoms when these foods aren’t available
The Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 is the validated assessment tool that adapts these diagnostic criteria specifically for UPFs, providing a standardized way for researchers and clinicians to identify this condition .
The recent nationally representative study of U.S. adults aged 50-80 uncovered several concerning patterns about UPF addiction in this demographic:
Overall Prevalence: 12%of older adults meet the criteria for UPF addiction.
Gender Disparity: The rate is significantly higher in women (17%) than men (5%).
Critical Age Window: Women aged 50-64 show the highest prevalence at 21%—more than double the rate of women aged 65-80.
Perhaps most strikingly, UPF addiction is more common among older adults than alcohol use disorder (approximately 1.5%) or tobacco use disorder (about 4%) in the same age group .
Science behind UPF addiction
The explanation lies in both our biology and our food environment. Neuroimaging studies reveal that individuals with compulsive UPF intake show brain circuit disruptions strikingly similar to those seen in alcohol and cocaine addiction.
These foods are designed to deliver unnaturally high doses of rewarding ingredients that are rapidly absorbed, creating a powerful effect on the brain’s reward system . This isn’t accidental—released industry documents have revealed that tobacco companies applied techniques used to enhance the addictive properties of tobacco products to food development when they acquired major food companies in the 1980s .
The timing is significant. Today’s 50-64-year-olds were children and young adults during the critical period when UPFs were being actively introduced and took over the market. Early exposure during developmental periods when the brain is particularly vulnerable to reward stimulation may have established lifelong patterns that now manifest as addiction .
Health consequences and social factors
The study found strong connections between UPF addiction and poorer health outcomes:
Physical Health: People rating their physical health as “poor” were 2-3 times more likely to meet UPF addiction criteria.
Mental Health: Those with poorer mental health were 3-4 times more likely to have UPF addiction.
Social Isolation: Individuals feeling socially isolated showed approximately 3.4 times greater likelihood of UPF addiction.
Weight Connection: Overweight men were nearly 20 timesmore likely, and overweight women 11 times more likely, to meet addiction criteria.
International experts are increasingly aligned on recognizing UPF addiction as a distinct clinical condition. A recent Delphi consensus method study involving 40 experts from 10 countries achieved strong agreement (37 of 40 experts) that addiction-like symptoms related to certain foods represent a valid clinical concern supported by extensive scientific evidence .
The researchers emphasize that recognizing this condition is crucial for developing effective treatments and public health policies. They call for:
Formal recognition of UPF addiction in diagnostic systems.
Targeted interventions for those affected.
Policy measures similar to tobacco control, including marketing restrictions to children and clearer labeling.
As one researcher noted, “We’re not saying all food is addictive. We’re saying that many ultra-processed foods are designed to be addictive. And unless we recognize that, we’ll continue to fail the people most affected”