Poll reveals that one-eighth of Americans over 50 show signs of junk food addiction

Around 13% of people aged 50 to 80 showed signs of addiction to such foods and beverages in the past year, the U-M Poll revealed.

The percentage is much higher among women than men – especially women in their 50s and early 60s. Notably, it was also higher in older adults who say they are overweight, lonely, or in fair or poor physical or mental health.

Common indicators of addiction
The poll was undertaken at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and supported by AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center. The poll team and U-M psychologist Ashley Gearhardt, Ph.D., used a set of 13 questions to measure whether and how often older adults experienced the core indicators of addiction in their relationship with highly processed foods such as sweets, salty snacks, sugary drinks and fast food.

Around 13% of people aged 50 to 80 showed signs of addiction to such foods and beverages in the past year.These addiction indicators include intense cravings, an inability to reduce intake, and signs of withdrawal.

Based on their findings, Gearhardt suggests that the same standard questions should become part of screening at doctors’ offices. This could help identify older adults with addictive eating habits who could benefit from referrals to nutrition counseling or programs that help people address addictive eating or get affordable access to healthier foods.

Gearhardt, an associate professor in the U-M Department of Psychology and member of IHPI, co-developed the standardized questionnaire used in the poll called the Yale Food Addiction Scale.

Food Ingredients First