Ultra-processed food addiction in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the USA.

IF 5.3 1区 医学 Q1 PSYCHIATRY
Addiction Pub Date : 2025-09-29 DOI:10.1111/add.70186
Lucy K Loch, Matthias Kirch, Dianne C Singer, Erica Solway, J Scott Roberts, Jeffrey T Kullgren, Ashley N Gearhardt
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Aims: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs; industrially produced foods typically containing unnaturally elevated levels of refined carbohydrates and/or added fats) became more widely introduced into the United States (US) food environment in the 1980s and have proliferated since. UPFs have been shown to trigger an addictive-like response. This study examines the prevalence of ultra-processed food addiction (UPFA) in older US adults and its association with various health domains.

Design: In July 2022, a cross-sectional online and telephone survey was conducted using the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA). Gender-stratified analyses examined the association between UPFA and perceptions of physical and mental health, and social isolation. Prevalence ratios were calculated, unadjusted and adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, education, and income.

Setting: Nationally representative sample of older adults (aged 50-80 years) in the United States.

Participants: The sample included 2038 older adults (49.4% aged 50-64 years and 50.6% aged 65-80 years, 51.2% women, M age = 63.6, standard deviation = 8.1).

Measurements: The modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (validated measure that applies the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder to the overconsumption of UPFs) was used to assess diagnostic criteria for UPFA. Various self-reported items were used to assess health-related domains (i.e., physical and mental health, social isolation).

Findings: The overall prevalence of UPFA was 12.4%, higher among women (16.9%) than men (7.5%), with the highest rate in women aged 50-64 (21%). Men reporting being overweight were 19.14 (95% confidence interval [CI] [5.26-69.66]) times more likely to meet the criteria for UPFA. Women reporting being overweight were 11.44 (95% CI [4.56-28.71]) times more likely to meet UFPA criteria. Women and men reporting worse physical health were 1.93 (95% CI [1.26-2.98]) times and 2.99 (95% CI [1.70-5.26]) times more likely to meet the criteria for UPFA, respectively. Similarly, women reporting worse mental health were 2.78 (95% CI [1.79-4.32]) times more likely to meet the criteria for UPFA, with men 4.02 (95% CI [2.19-7.38]) times more likely. Lastly, women and men reporting feelings of social isolation were 3.40 (95% CI [2.16-5.34]) times and 3.35 (95% CI [1.83-6.14]) times more likely to meet UFPA criteria.

Conclusion: Ultra-processed food addiction appears to be prevalent among older adults in the United States, particularly among women who were in adolescence and early adulthood when the nutrient quality of the US food supply worsened. Addictive patterns of UPF intake appear to be associated with poorer physical health, mental health, and social well-being.

超加工食品成瘾在美国老年人的全国代表性样本。
目的:超加工食品(upf;工业生产的食品,通常含有不自然的高水平的精制碳水化合物和/或添加脂肪)在20世纪80年代被更广泛地引入美国的食品环境,并自那时起激增。upf已被证明会引发类似上瘾的反应。本研究调查了美国老年人中超加工食品成瘾(UPFA)的患病率及其与各种健康领域的关系。设计:2022年7月,使用密歇根大学健康老龄化全国民意调查(NPHA)进行了一项横断面在线和电话调查。性别分层分析考察了UPFA与身心健康观念和社会孤立之间的关系。计算患病率,未调整患病率,并根据年龄、种族/民族、教育程度和收入进行调整。背景:美国老年人(50-80岁)的全国代表性样本。对象:老年人2038人,其中50 ~ 64岁49.4%,65 ~ 80岁50.6%,女性51.2%,M年龄= 63.6,标准差= 8.1。测量方法:使用修改后的耶鲁食物成瘾量表2.0(将物质使用障碍的诊断标准应用于upf过度消费的有效测量)来评估UPFA的诊断标准。各种自我报告项目被用来评估与健康相关的领域(即身心健康、社会孤立)。研究结果:UPFA的总体患病率为12.4%,女性(16.9%)高于男性(7.5%),其中50-64岁女性患病率最高(21%)。报告超重的男性达到UPFA标准的可能性高出19.14倍(95%可信区间[CI][5.26-69.66])。报告超重的女性达到UFPA标准的可能性是其11.44倍(95% CI[4.56-28.71])。报告身体健康状况较差的女性和男性达到UPFA标准的可能性分别为1.93倍(95% CI[1.26-2.98])和2.99倍(95% CI[1.70-5.26])。同样,报告心理健康状况较差的女性符合UPFA标准的可能性是其2.78倍(95% CI[1.79-4.32]),男性为4.02倍(95% CI[2.19-7.38])。最后,报告社会孤立感的女性和男性达到UFPA标准的可能性分别是3.40倍(95% CI[2.16-5.34])和3.35倍(95% CI[1.83-6.14])。结论:超加工食品成瘾似乎在美国老年人中很普遍,尤其是在青春期和成年早期的女性中,当时美国食品供应的营养质量恶化了。UPF摄入的成瘾模式似乎与较差的身体健康、心理健康和社会福祉有关。
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来源期刊
Addiction
Addiction 医学-精神病学
CiteScore
10.80
自引率
6.70%
发文量
319
审稿时长
3 months
期刊介绍: Addiction publishes peer-reviewed research reports on pharmacological and behavioural addictions, bringing together research conducted within many different disciplines. Its goal is to serve international and interdisciplinary scientific and clinical communication, to strengthen links between science and policy, and to stimulate and enhance the quality of debate. We seek submissions that are not only technically competent but are also original and contain information or ideas of fresh interest to our international readership. We seek to serve low- and middle-income (LAMI) countries as well as more economically developed countries. Addiction’s scope spans human experimental, epidemiological, social science, historical, clinical and policy research relating to addiction, primarily but not exclusively in the areas of psychoactive substance use and/or gambling. In addition to original research, the journal features editorials, commentaries, reviews, letters, and book reviews.
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