A new study suggests that ultra-processed foods may influence children’s developing brains in ways that encourage weight gain. Researchers from USC studied 46 children ages 7 to 10 and found that those who ate more ultra-processed foods showed stronger activity in the brain’s reward system when viewing tempting foods like cookies and French fries. These heightened brain responses were linked to greater increases in body fat and body mass index (BMI) one year later, suggesting that the brain’s sensitivity to food cues may help explain why ultra-processed diets are associated with obesity.
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