They were the first generation to grow up surrounded by snack cakes, frozen dinners, diet cookies and drive-thru meals. Now, women in their 50s and early 60s are showing higher rates of what researchers call “addiction” to ultraprocessed foods, products made with industrial ingredients and designed for maximum appeal.
A new study from the University of Michigan published in Addiction, found that 21% of women and 10% of men in this age group meet criteria for ultraprocessed food addiction, compared with much lower rates among adults over 65. Researchers used a validated tool adapted from substance use disorder screening, looking at signs like strong cravings, withdrawal, failed attempts to cut back and eating patterns that interfere with daily life.
“The percentages we see in these data far outpace the percentages of older adults with problematic use of other addictive substances, such as alcohol and tobacco,” said senior author Ashley Gearhardt, PhD, who directs the University of Michigan Food and Addiction Science & Treatment Lab. She noted that food addiction was most strongly linked to self-reported overweight, poor physical or mental health and social isolation.
The study also points to gender differences. Unlike alcohol or nicotine, where men typically show higher rates of use, ultraprocessed food addiction was more common among women. Researchers suggest aggressive marketing of “diet” processed foods in the 1980s may have played a role, exposing women in this age group to products engineered for taste but promoted as healthy.
It’s important to note that the term “ultraprocessed” covers a wide spectrum, from sugary drinks and packaged sweets to protein bars and frozen meals. Not all processed foods are harmful, and many are convenient, safe and affordable parts of modern diets. Ingredients like seed oils are sometimes brought up in debates about ultraprocessed foods, but research identifies the real concern as products deliberately engineered to be hyperpalatable and nutritionally unbalanced, especially when they replace whole foods like fruits, vegetables and minimally processed grains.
“These products are sold as health foods — which can be especially problematic for those trying to reduce the number of calories they consume,” Gearhardt said. “This especially affects women, because of the societal pressure around weight.”
The researchers warn that today’s children and teens consume an even larger share of calories from ultraprocessed foods than the Gen X adults in this study did when they were young. If exposure during key developmental periods increases vulnerability to addictive eating patterns, the health consequences may be even greater for future generations.
As Gearhardt put it: “Just as with other substances, intervening early may be essential to reducing long-term addiction risk across the lifespan.”
This research was supported by AARP Foundation and Michigan Medicine under the direction of the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. Additional support came from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research and Development Service; the National Institute on Drug Abuse; and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.