Chocolate is the second most addictive food — so what tops the list?

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We all know ultra-processed foods are bad for our health — yet many of us can’t stop eating them. A study has found that some foods are far more addictive than others, with pizza ranking as the hardest to resist.

According to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, foods that are high in fat, refined carbohydrates and rapidly absorbed sugars pose the highest risk of triggering addictive eating behaviors. Researchers at the University of Michigan analyzed the eating habits of 518 adults to determine which foods were most likely to cause dependency-like cravings.

Participants rated 35 foods, both processed and unprocessed, on a scale from 1 (not at all addictive) to 7 (extremely addictive). The results showed that pizza topped the list with an average score of 4.1, followed by chocolate and potato chips, which both scored 3.73. Researchers said that chocolate’s mix of sugar and fat causes a fast energy surge, which can lead to repetitive consumption — especially with milk chocolate products that contain added sugars and solids.

Cookies ranked fourth with an average score of 3.71, followed by ice cream at 3.68. The study noted that ice cream’s high energy density makes it particularly rewarding to the brain, reinforcing the desire for more.

French fries, one of the most popular fast-food sides, came in sixth at 3.6, followed by cheeseburgers (3.51) and soft drinks (3.29). The caffeine in sodas can stimulate the brain’s dopamine release — the same chemical linked to pleasure — creating a cycle where dopamine response weakens over time, prompting people to drink even more.

Cake followed closely with a score of 3.26, while cheese rounded out the top ten at 3.22. Cheese contains casein, a milk protein that can stimulate appetite and cravings, researchers said.

The findings reinforce the idea that not all foods are equally tempting — and that the combination of fat, sugar and refined carbs can activate the brain’s reward systems in ways that resemble addictive substances.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.