A surprising new study reveals that ultra-processed foods (UPFs), widely known for their convenience and addictive flavors, might be reshaping your brain—potentially driving overeating habits.

The findings of the study was published in npj Metabolic Health and Disease.

Researchers analyzed dietary and brain imaging data from roughly 30,000 middle-aged adults in the UK Biobank. They assessed how UPF intake correlates with brain microstructure in regions responsible for hunger , reward, and emotional eating — notably the hypothalamus , amygdala, and nucleus accumbens.

The study used advanced MRI techniques to measure cellular integrity, water content, and tissue microarchitecture, adjusting for confounders like body mass index , diet composition, physical activity, and socioecono

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