Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Stronger Brain Reward Responses and Body Fat Gains in Children

A new study published in JAMA Network Open by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California indicates that children who consume more ultra-processed foods exhibit heightened activity in the brain's reward region when viewing appetizing food images. This stronger brain response is associated with increased body fat over time, suggesting a link between a diet high in manufactured foods and measurable differences in childhood brain reward circuitry, which may contribute to adiposity gains.