Title : Ultra-processed foods and food addiction in psychiatry: Neurobiological mechanisms, clinical implications, and future directions

Background: The prevalence of UPFs in global diets has risen substantially over recent decades, and their consumption has been associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Recent evidence suggests that certain processed foods exhibit addictive properties through their effects on neural reward systems, thereby giving rise to considerable interest in food addiction as a novel phenomenon in the fields of psychiatry and addiction medicine. Despite growing evidence linking ultra-processed food consumption to addiction-like eating behaviors, the psychiatric relevance, diagnostic classification, and clinical implications of food addiction remain poorly defined.

Objective: The objective of this narrative review is to examine the current evidence linking ultra-processed food consumption and food addiction with psychiatric disorders.

Methods: A narrative review of the literature was performed by integrating findings from studies in the fields of psychiatry, addiction medicine, neuroscience, nutrition, and public health. Relevant peer-reviewed studies, review articles, and conceptual papers were analyzed to examine the existing body of research related to food addiction, reward-related neurocircuitry, and psychopathological effects of consuming ultra-processed foods.

Results: Recent studies provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that consumption of ultra-processed and highly palatable foods activates brain reward mechanisms similar to those implicated in substance-based addictions. Food addiction has been shown to co-occur with several different mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, binge eating disorder, and substance use disorders. Common underlying neural and behavioral mechanisms include reward sensitivity, impulsivity, craving, and compulsivity. However, challenges remain regarding diagnostic classification, causality, and differentiation of food addiction from established eating disorders.

Conclusions: Food addiction is an emerging field of interest involving psychiatry, addiction medicine, and nutrition. Recognition of the potential role of ultra-processed foods in psychiatric vulnerability may inform future research, screening, and prevention efforts. Further studies on the subject should include longitudinal research, neurological research, and intervention trials.

To be updated shortly..