(Photo by Vineyard Perspective on Shutterstock)
In A Nutshell
12.4% of U.S. adults aged 50–80 meet criteria for food addiction—higher than alcohol or tobacco in this age group.
Women 50–64 are most affected, with 21% showing addictive patterns linked to 1980s diet trends.
Overweight status, poor health, mental distress, and social isolation strongly correlate with food addiction.
Future generations may face even higher risks as ultra-processed foods now dominate children’s diets.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Americans who grew up munching on Lunchables and drinking Sunny D may be facing consequences decades later. New research shows more than one in eight older adults meets clinical criteria for ultra-processed food addiction, at rates exceeding alcohol and tobacco dependence in the same age group.
A study out of the University of Michigan surveyed over 2,000 adults aged 50 to 80 and found an overall addiction rate of 12.4%. Among women in their 50s and early 60s, that number jumps to 21%. One in five is dealing with compulsive eating patterns involving cookies, chips, and sugary drinks.
To put this in perspective, alcohol use disorder affects about 1.5% of older adults and tobacco use disorder about 4%. Ultra-processed food addiction is roughly three times more common.
The timing matters. Adults in this age range were children, teenagers, and young adults during a seismic shift in American food. The 1970s and 80s brought an explosion of industrially produced snacks engineered with unnaturally high levels of refined carbohydrates and added fats. During those same years, tobacco companies purchased major food manufacturers and developed foods with what researchers call “hyperpalatable ingredients,” which have spread across the modern food supply.
“Individuals who are now older adults were in developmentally sensitive stages during the 1970s and 1980s, precisely when tobacco-owned food manufacturers were shaping the market with addictive ultra-processed foods,” the researchers write in their paper, published in the journal Addiction.
Early exposure during critical developmental windows, when eating habits and food preferences are forming, may have created lasting consumption patterns.
Many adults who struggle with mental health problems are more likely to find themselves addicted to ultra-processed foods. (Photo by Andrey_Popov on Shutterstock)
Why Women Show Higher Addiction Rates
Women experienced addiction at more than double the rate of men overall: 16.9% versus 7.5%. The gap widens among specific age groups: women aged 50 to 64 showed rates of 21% compared to men of all ages at 7.5%.
This gender gap may also trace back to the 1980s. Public health campaigns urged Americans to cut fat from their diets, and the food industry responded with “diet” products. Low-fat cookies, SnackWell’s, and microwavable meals flooded grocery stores, marketed heavily toward women as weight management tools. These products replaced fat with refined carbohydrates, which research now shows can trigger addictive responses.
Women in their 50s and early 60s today were teens and young adults during this low-fat craze. They may have consumed these foods believing they supported weight loss, not realizing the products could reinforce addictive patterns.
Recognizing the Warning Signs
Researchers used the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale, which applies substance use disorder criteria to ultra-processed food consumption. The diagnostic markers include loss of control over intake, intense cravings, continued use despite harm, withdrawal symptoms, and tolerance (needing more to achieve the same effect).
Among participants meeting addiction criteria, about 29% of women reported strong urges to eat certain foods at least once a week that dominated their thoughts. About 24% said they repeatedly tried and failed to cut down two to three times per week. A small percentage of those with addiction (2.5% of men and 3.3% of women) reported eating to the point of physical illness at least once a week.
Other common symptoms included spending significant time feeling sluggish from overeating, avoiding social activities due to fear of overeating, and continuing to eat the same way despite emotional problems.
The Health Connection
Food addiction didn’t exist in a vacuum. Adults who described themselves as overweight were 11 to 19 times more likely to meet addiction criteria compared to those at a healthy weight.
Those rating their physical health as fair or poor were two to three times more likely to struggle with addictive eating. Mental health showed even stronger associations. Men reporting poor mental health were four times more likely to meet addiction criteria, while women were nearly three times more likely.
Social isolation appeared as a powerful correlate. Both men and women who felt isolated from others were more than three times as likely to experience addictive eating patterns.
The connections likely run both ways. People may turn to ultra-processed foods to cope with loneliness or distress, which correlates with higher addiction risk. Those struggling with food addiction may isolate themselves out of shame about their eating, further damaging social connections. Because this study captured a snapshot in time rather than following people over years, researchers can’t determine which came first.
The 1980s birthed a revolution of processed junk foods that scientists say led to many people unwittingly forming an unhealthy food addiction. (Image by Vectorium on Shutterstock)
Age Matters More Than Expected
Younger seniors showed markedly higher addiction rates than their older counterparts. Adults aged 50 to 64 had nearly double the prevalence at 15.7% compared to 8.2% for those 65 to 80.
This pattern aligns with established addiction science. Earlier exposure to addictive substances dramatically increases risk. Starting regular use before age 25 raises the odds of developing an addiction later. The younger group in this study, now in their 50s and early 60s, were children and adolescents when ultra-processed foods became ubiquitous. The older group was already in their 20s and 30s, potentially past the highest-risk developmental period.
These findings raise questions about what future generations might face. Children and adolescents today consume even more ultra-processed foods than older adults did at the same age. These products now comprise the majority of calories for young people in the United States. If current patterns hold, addiction rates could climb as today’s youth reach older adulthood.
What the Science Can and Cannot Tell Us
The study had some constraints worth noting. Data collection happened in July 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when social isolation may have been elevated and eating patterns disrupted. Measurements relied on self-reported perceptions of weight and health rather than clinical assessments. The researchers captured a snapshot in time rather than tracking people over years, which limits conclusions about cause and effect.
Despite these limitations, the data show that ultra-processed food addiction affects older Americans at rates exceeding other substance use disorders in this age group. Yet unlike alcohol or tobacco, ultra-processed foods remain everywhere, heavily marketed, and socially acceptable.
The researchers call for more investigation into how this dietary shift affects people across their entire lifespan, noting that “the current food environment is saturated with ultra-processed foods.“
For the generation that came of age with Happy Meals and Fruit Roll-Ups, the legacy of that transformation may be more enduring than anyone anticipated.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have concerns about eating habits, consult a healthcare provider.
Paper Summary
Methodology
Researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey in July 2022 through the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. The sample included 2,038 adults aged 50 to 80 (994 men, 1,044 women), recruited to be nationally representative of the US household population. Participants completed the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, a validated 13-item measure applying substance use disorder diagnostic criteria to ultra-processed food consumption. The scale assesses behaviors such as loss of control, cravings, withdrawal, tolerance, and continued use despite negative consequences. Researchers collected self-reported data on weight status, physical health, mental health, and social isolation. Analyses were separated by gender and used statistical weighting to reflect US population demographics.
Results
Overall, 12.4% of older adults met criteria for ultra-processed food addiction. Rates were higher among women (16.9%) than men (7.5%), with women aged 50 to 64 showing the highest prevalence at 21%. Participants reporting being overweight were 11 to 19 times more likely to meet addiction criteria compared to those reporting being at about the right weight. Fair or poor physical health was associated with two to three times higher likelihood of addiction. Poor mental health showed stronger associations, with men four times and women nearly three times more likely to have the condition. Social isolation tripled the odds of addiction for both genders. Younger seniors (ages 50 to 64) had nearly double the addiction rate of those 65 to 80.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design prevented causal inferences about relationships between variables. Data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected eating patterns and social isolation levels. Researchers relied on single-item, self-reported measures of health and functioning rather than validated multi-item scales or objective clinical assessments. Weight status came from participant perception rather than measured height, weight, or body composition analysis. The study could not examine which specific medical conditions or mental health diagnoses drove reports of poor health. Future research needs longitudinal designs, objective health measures, and detailed dietary assessments to clarify temporal relationships and underlying mechanisms.
Funding and Disclosures
AARP Foundation and Michigan Medicine supported this research under the direction of the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. Support also came from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research and Development Service, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (grant 5R01DA055027), and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (grant DGE-2241144). The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Citation
Loch, L.K., Kirch, M., Singer, D.C., Solway, E., Roberts, J.S., Kullgren, J.T., & Gearhardt, A.N. “Ultra-processed food addiction in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the USA,” published in Addiction on September 29, 2025. DOI: 10.1111/add.70186