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A 65-year-old woman with a calm expression, standing in a sunlit, modern kitchen. She is wearing an olive green apron over an earthy-toned blouse and is preparing a healthy meal with fresh vegetables and artisan bread on a wooden countertop.
food facts

Ultra-processed food addiction outpaces alcohol and tobacco after 50

 

If food feels louder than it used to, there is a reason.

Many women over 50 feel drawn to chips, cookies, fast food, or sugary drinks, even when they want something else. That pull can feel confusing. It can feel personal.

It is not.

This article looks at ultra-processed food addiction, why it rises after 50, and why women are affected more often.

decorative image of two green apples

 

A recent University of Michigan study looked at ultra-processed food addiction. It is now more common than alcohol or tobacco addiction in adults over 50.

This is not about willpower.
This is about how modern food is designed and how the body responds over time.

 

What researchers mean by food addiction

Food addiction does not mean loving food or eating for comfort.

Researchers say it's a pattern where people:

  • Feel strong cravings

  • Try to cut back and cannot

  • Eat even when it causes problems

  •  

  • Feel on edge or irritable when stopping

In this study, more than 1 in 8 adults ages 50 to 80 showed signs of this pattern.

That rate was higher than alcohol addiction.
It was higher than tobacco addiction.

This matters because ultra-processed food addiction is still treated as a personal issue, not a health one.

What counts as ultra-processed food

Ultra-processed foods are industrial products, not simple meals.

Common examples include:

  • Packaged snacks like chips and crackers

  • Cookies, pastries, and sweets

  • Fast food

  • Sugary drinks and sweetened coffees

  • Many foods once marketed as low-fat or diet-friendly

These foods are designed to be easy to eat and hard to stop eating. They often combine refined carbs, sugar, salt, and additives in ways that strongly activate reward pathways in the brain.

This is why cravings can feel intense and automatic.

Why ultra-processed food addiction shows up after 50

Adults now over 50 grew up during the 1970s and 1980s, when packaged snacks became everyday food.

This generation:

  • Snacked more often

  • Saw heavy food marketing

  • Learned that processed foods were normal and safe

Eating patterns form early.
Over the years, it adds up.

Later in life, stress, sleep changes, menopause, illness, and caregiving can lower the body’s tolerance for these foods. What once felt manageable can start to feel overwhelming.

Why women are affected more often

The study showed clear differences in ultra-processed food addiction:

  • Women: 16.9%

  • Men: 7.5%

  • Women ages 50 to 64: 21%

One likely reason is diet culture.

For decades, women were pushed toward low-fat foods. Fat was removed. Sugar and refined carbs were added. These products were marketed as healthy and responsible.

Those changes matter.
They increase cravings and reduce satisfaction.

Women did not fail here.
The food environment failed women.

 
A woman over 50 stands in her kitchen reading a cookbook, surrounded by warm natural light and earthy green tones. The scene reflects a gentle, supportive approach to food and a calm alternative to ultra-processed food addiction, focused on real meals and nourishment.

 

Health and social factors that matter

Addictive eating patterns were more common among people who:

  • Felt unwell physically or mentally

  • Considered themselves overweight

  • Felt isolated or alone

These factors often reinforce each other.

Isolation increases eating.
Eating increases shame.
Shame reduces support.

This is why connection works better than control.

Differences within the over-50 group

Ultra-processed food addiction rates were higher among younger adults:

  • Ages 50 to 64: 15.7%

  • Ages 65 to 80: 8.2%

This likely reflects when exposure began, not strength or character. More years around highly processed food increases risk.

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about the Get Real Weight Loss Program and how we support women over 50 in building a healthier, more peaceful relationship with food, without restriction or shame.

What this means for you

Ultra-processed food addiction is not a personal flaw. It is a biological response to engineered food and long-term exposure.

If your relationship with food feels intense, exhausting, or repetitive, you are not broken.

This pattern is a biological response to:

  • Engineered food

  • Long-term contact

  • Stress and hormonal shifts

At Get Real Weight Loss, we do not believe in restriction, punishment, or food shame.

We believe in:

  • Real food

  • Clear understanding

  • Steady support

Healing does not start with trying harder.
It starts with understanding what you are dealing with. And then choosing gentler ways forward.

a woman with short grey hair and purple-rimmed glasses, inspired by the person in the reference photo. She is standing in a bright, modern kitchen, smiling warmly at the camera with an open, welcoming gesture. On the wooden countertop in front of her is a vibrant bowl of fresh salad featuring greens, cucumber, tomatoes, and raspberries. The scene is accented with the GRWL brand colors—various shades of green, earthy tones, and soft neutrals. In the background, a woven basket overflows with fresh bell peppers and leafy greens, symbolizing a peaceful and abundant relationship with food.
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Author
photo of coach Deb, in short gray hair and glasses smiling

Coach Deb

Life and Health Coach

Having struggled with excess weight my whole life, I tried and failed until I discovered the strategy of Nourish. Think well, eat well, move well.

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