We've all had those moments, where we've eaten an entire package of oreos, a pint of ice cream or huge super-sized meal from McDonald's.
New research from the Scripps Research Institute in Florida suggests that junk food addiction is surprisingly similar to drug addiction.
Rats were split into two groups: Controls which had high-nutrient/low-cal diets or Junkies who were given unlimited junk food bought in a local grocery store (ie bacon, cheesecake, ho-hos, sausage, etc.). As expected, the junkie rats quickly became obese and compulsive eaters.
The rats were then allowed to control the pleasure center of their brains (also associated with drug addiction) by running on a wheel. The more they ran, the better they felt. Rats on the high fat diet ran more demonstrating that they need more stimulation in order to feel pleasure.
To see how strong the urge to eat junk food was, the rats were shocked whenever they ate high-fat foods. Control rats refused to eat the food again after one shock. However, the obese rats continually ate despite the repeated discomfort.
Furthermore, when the rats were put back onto the strict control diet, they had much difficulty adjusting. Formerly junky rats refused to eat their new food and starved themselves for two weeks.
Scientists are now interested in seeing if the eating habits of these junky rats are affected in the long term sense.
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