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By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
(Health Day)
MONDAY, Jan. 30, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Up to 13 percent of seniors may be addicted to highly processed comfort foods, according to a new survey.
According to new data from the National Healthy Aging Survey from the University of Michigan’s Institute for Health Policy and Innovation, cravings for cookies, chips, packaged snacks and sodas have observed in adults aged 50 to 80 years.
Women had a higher number of addictions to these foods than men, especially those in their 50s and early 60s. Older people who were overweight or in poor mental health or isolated also had much higher percentages of possible addiction to processed foods.
The researchers suggested that physicians should screen for these addictive eating habits, so patients can be referred to nutritional counseling or programs that help with addictive eating.
“The word addiction may sound strong when it comes to food, but research has shown that our brains also react strongly to highly processed foods, especially those that contain the most sugar, simple starches and fats, than to tobacco, alcohol and other addictive substances,” the researcher said. Ashley Gearhardtassociate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan.
“Just like smoking or drinking, we need to identify and reach those who have adopted unhealthy drinking habits and help them develop a healthier relationship with food,” Gearhardt said in a university press release.
The poll interviewed 2,163 seniors in July 2022.
The researchers used a set of 13 questions to measure whether, and how often, respondents showed signs of addiction to sweets, salty snacks, sugary drinks and fast food. These indicators include intense cravings, an inability to cut down, and signs of withdrawal.
Gearhardt co-developed the standardized questionnaire used in the survey, called the Yale Food Addiction Scale.
Respondents had to report experiencing at least two of 11 addiction symptoms to meet the criteria, as well as significant food-related distress or life problems several times a week. These are the same criteria used to diagnose problems with addiction to alcohol, tobacco and other addictive substances, the authors said.
Intense food cravings were the most frequently reported symptom of addiction in the survey. About 24% said that at least once a week they had such a craving for a highly processed food that they couldn’t think of anything else. About 19% said that at least two to three times a week they had tried unsuccessfully to cut down or stop eating these types of foods.
About 12% said their eating behavior caused them a lot of distress at least two to three times a week.
“We need to understand that cravings and behaviors around food are rooted in brain chemistry and heredity, and that some people may need extra help, just as they would quitting smoking or smoking. drink,” the poll director said. Dr. Jeffrey Kullgrenassociate professor of internal medicine at Michigan Medicine.
SOURCE: Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan, press release, January 30, 2023
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