What Are the Most "Addictive" Foods?
Discover which foods are most likely to trigger addictive-like eating. Highly processed foods combining refined carbs and fats top the list, while unprocessed low-fat foods are the least addictive.
When people talk about “addictive” foods, sugar often gets the spotlight. However, research shows that other factors—like processing and fat content—play a bigger role in addictive-like eating behaviors.
How Addictive Foods Are Studied
One study asked participants to rate 35 different foods based on how likely they were to experience problems with them. Questions included statements such as:
“Over time, I have found that I need to eat more and more of certain foods to get the feeling I want, such as reduced negative emotions or increased pleasure.”
This study is valuable because it was conducted in humans, comparing a wide variety of foods, rather than relying on animal models or one-on-one comparisons.
Main Findings
The strongest association with addictive-like eating came from highly processed foods, defined as those with added refined carbohydrates or fats. Examples include:
- Pizza
- Chocolate
- Chips
- Cookies
- Ice cream
Interestingly, unprocessed foods high in fat (often paired with salt) also ranked relatively high, though lower than processed foods. Examples include:
- Cheese
- Bacon
- Steak
- Nuts
- Eggs
Finally, unprocessed foods low in fat were rated as the least addictive.
What This Means
It’s not a single macronutrient—like sugar—that drives addictive eating. Rather, highly processed foods combining refined carbs and added fats are the worst offenders. If your goal is to manage cravings or reduce overeating, focusing on whole, minimally processed foods can be a powerful strategy.