Worldwide Examination Of Dietary Habits Finds Increased Consumption Of Unhealthy Foods.

“There may be more fruit, vegetables and healthy options available than ever before, but the world is mostly hungry for junk food, according to a study of eating habits in nearly 190 countries.” Investigators “found that even though people are eating more healthy foods including whole grains and fish, there has been an even bigger jump in the amount of junk food eaten.” The Washington Post (2/19, Bernstein) “To Your Health” blog reports that the researchers found that even though “some people — older folks, women and those in some developed nations — have increased their consumption of...healthful foods and substances, that improvement has been surpassed by increased consumption of seven unhealthful foods, particularly among younger generations, men and middle-income and poor nations.” a study that found highly processed foods may be addictive and lead to overeating. Researchers at the University of Michigan and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai examined 500 participants in two study groups and found highly processed foods “may be capable of triggering addictive-like eating behavior.” The findings have implications for treating obesity, and Icahn assistant professor of pharmacology and systems therapeutics Nicole Avena said “It may not be a simple matter of ‘cutting back’ on certain foods, but rather, adopting methods used to curtail smoking, drinking and drug use.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/02/18/diets-around-the-world-are-getting-worse-not-better/