Addictions to sugary treats or savoury foods that fall under UPFs may affect a sixth human sense called ‘interoception’. — JULIO MELANDA/Pexels
There is a very strong link between rates of food addiction and access to Ultra Processed Foods (UPFs). For one, UPFs are designed to be addictive, accessible, convenient, and cheap. They keep well and can be stored in cupboards and fridges for very long periods, always readily available to be consumed whenever the urge strikes. Hence, UPFs are potentially highly problematic items hiding in full view everywhere in many modern societies.
Although people tend to rotate around various UPFs, especially snacks, quite often this rotation merely involves switching between variants of the same type of UPF, for example, switching between different sugary treats or flavours of crisps.
