Another harm has been found: It is consumed with pleasure, but it is addictive.

According to the Daily Mail, research has revealed that ultra-processed foods not only lead to obesity and metabolic diseases, but can also affect the structure of the brain, perpetuating the cycle of overeating.

Research published in the journal Nature has indicated that ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which contain additives, emulsifiers and preservatives to enhance palatability and extend shelf life, may be associated with changes in the brain.

"Our findings suggest that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with differences in the brain. These associations may be linked to behavioral patterns such as overeating, but causal relationships cannot be confirmed by our study," said Professor Arsène Kanyamibwa from the University of Helsinki.

The research highlights that the observed changes cannot be explained solely by inflammation or obesity, and that components specific to UPFs, such as emulsifiers, may also play a role.

The study found that ultra-processed foods cause changes in cell density and water content in the hypothalamus and reward centers. These changes can disrupt the regulation of hunger, satiety, and food addiction. Experts say this can lead people to consume more food despite feeling full, leading to an inability to control their eating behavior.

Observed changes in the nucleus accumbens and pallidum (the brain regions involved in reward and motivation) may reflect early signs of cognitive decline, brain shrinkage, and cell loss. The researchers caution that these effects could reinforce the vicious cycle initiated by over-processed food consumption.

These findings are consistent with previous research on the negative health effects of consuming UPF. Earlier this year, an international study found that consuming an additional 100 grams of ultra-processed foods per day increased the risk of life-threatening heart disease by 5.9 percent and the risk of high blood pressure by 14.5 percent.

The term UPF covers products such as ready meals, ice creams and ketchup that are made with colourings, flavourings and preservatives that extend shelf life.

The UK is among the countries in Europe where the population consumes the most UPF, with approximately 57 percent of the total diet consisting of these foods.

"Consuming ultra-processed foods increases several nutritional and metabolic markers of disease and is associated with structural brain changes in regions that regulate eating behavior. These findings help us understand the adverse health effects of consuming ultra-processed foods and how this behavior may be self-perpetuating," said Professor Kanyamibwa.