Children who ate more Ultra-processed foods showed greater activity in the brain’s reward system when viewing pictures of appetizing foods, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. The stronger responses were associated with greater increases in body fat and body mass index (BMI) over the next year.
Researchers studied 46 children aged 7 to 10 who had a healthy weight at the start. They scanned the children’s brains as they viewed images of foods such as cookies and French fries, assessed their diets, and recorded measures including BMI, body fat percentage and waist circumference. The physical measurements were repeated one year later.
Children with higher ultra-processed food intake had greater activity in the dorsal striatum, a brain region involved in reward and motivation. Stronger activity there was associated with larger increases in BMI and body fat percentage during the year of follow-up.
When researchers accounted for the brain responses, the association between ultra-processed food intake and BMI was 31% weaker, while the association with body fat percentage was 44% weaker. The findings suggest that sensitivity to food cues may help explain the relationship between these foods and changes in body composition, but do not show that ultra-processed foods directly cause changes in brain function or weight.
The researchers noted that the study was observational and cannot establish cause and effect. They also said access to healthier, less processed foods matters, since ultra-processed products can be inexpensive, readily available and convenient. The ongoing BrainChild study will continue following participants as they grow older.
Sources: ScienceDaily.