A Critical Evaluation of the Terms Used To Describe Foods Implicated in Addictive-Like Eating

Abstract Purpose of Review Food addiction (FA) describes an addictive-like drive to consume rewarding foods. FA is not yet a diagnosis, in part because refinement of the foods implicated in FA is needed. This review explores three terms referring to addictive-like foods: ultra-processed foods (UPFs), highly processed foods, and hyper-palatable foods. Recent Findings Pharmacokinetic properties of addictive substances (rewarding ingredients, rapid absorption, somatosensory enhancements) are important considerations when determining which foods are addictive-like. Certain UPFs engineered to be highly hedonic (e.g., packaged snacks and sweets) align with these properties. A narrative review of which foods have been associated with addiction indicators showed 72.5% were UPFs, 70% were highly processed, and 57.5% were hyper-palatable. Summary “Ultra-processed food addiction” best represents the pharmacokinetic properties of addictive substances and foods implicated in FA. Future research should refine the specificity of the UPF term to capture the most addictive-like UPFs. Iterating the FA nomenclature can inform clinical recommendations and policies that target the foods driving compulsive consumption.