Snack Attack: The 10 Most Addictive Junk Foods

There’s a reason you might reach mindlessly for that second cupcake. The potency and absorption rate of junk food share similarities with those of addictive drugs, a U-M study found.

It’s no secret that most of us can’t just eat a single potato chip and put down the bag.

But could your favorite unhealthful snacks actually be addictive?

A recent study from the University of Michigan found that highly processed foods share the same pharmacokinetic properties (in other words, the rate at which the body absorbs, processes and excretes a substance) as drugs of abuse.

The reason: Elevated concentrations of fat and refined carbohydrates in junk food are more rapidly delivered into our body’s system than natural foods rich in fiber, protein and water (which, in turn, can slow the rate that sugar enters the bloodstream).

Excess artificial additives, as such, supply a quick and pleasurable reward — albeit a poor one.

The study was based on two surveys totaling 504 participants, with each component focused on 35 foods. One survey relied on the Yale Food Addiction Scale, a measure to identify individuals with dependence on foods high in fat or sugar, when asking them to select the more tempting food item among pairs of preselected options; the other asked people to rate each of the 35 food items on a scale of 1 to 7 — with 7 being “most problematic” as described by the Yale criteria (a measure that includes loss of control and continued use despite knowing the health risks).

Beyond motivating consumers to take a closer review of their snack choices, the study could spur wider action in regard to addiction-specific symptoms tied to a person’s diet.

Given the findings, likewise, the researchers suggest that clinicians might one day treat junk-food addicts not with a prescription to cut back, but instead adopt methods used to curb smoking, drinking or drug use. 

Here, starting with the most problematic treat based on the level of processed ingredients and the self-reported likelihood of the study’s participants to indulge in a particular item, are the top 10 most addictive foods:

1.         Pizza

2.         Chocolate

3.         Chips

4.         Cookies

5.         Ice cream

6.         French fries

7.         Nondiet soda

8.         Cake

9.         Cheeseburgers

10.       Muffins

Looking for alternatives to curb your junk food craving? If you work, study or visit U-M, finding healthier foods options on campus is easy. U-M offers healthier alternatives in most university vending machines, making snacking and eating on-the-go less of a struggle. And many campus restaurants and catering partners now offer healthier menu items. Find these options by looking for the “MHealthy” logo.

And this June through mid-fall, M Farmers Markets are another alternative for U-M workers, students, patients and visitors looking for healthy, wholesome foods to snack on while on campus. A collaboration between MHealthy, UMHS, Michigan Dining, Central Student Government and Planet Blue, these markets are a convenient way to get ultra-fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the farm right to your table. Visit one of five locations: University Hospital, NCRC, Wolverine Tower, KMS and East Ann Arbor Health Center.