Tag: Hyper palatable foods

Over 50% of the average American diet consists of ultra-processed foods, including chips. The question, "do chips increase appetite?" is frequently asked by those trying to manage their eating habits. Research confirms that the design of these hyper-palatable snacks actively encourages consumption beyond the point of physical hunger.

According to a study using the Yale Food Addiction Scale, processed foods like chips, cookies, and pizza were consistently rated as the most addictive. So, if you've ever felt like you can't stop eating Doritos, you're not alone; a complex mix of food science, psychology, and flavor engineering is at play.

According to a 2024 study, combining fat and sugar can trigger a powerful, supra-additive dopamine release in the brain's reward centers. This effect helps explain what chemical in some foods makes you want to eat more, driving intense cravings for ultra-processed products.

Research using the Yale Food Addiction Scale reveals that highly processed foods containing specific combinations of fat, sugar, and salt are most likely to trigger addictive-like eating behaviors, far more so than unprocessed foods. We'll explore what's the most addictive snack and the powerful science that makes certain treats so hard to resist.