From deliciously savoury snacks to buttery biscuits, processed foods often have a grip on us that we can’t simply resist.
However, Dr Michael Mosley has warned you could even be dangerously addicted to certain foods without even knowing it.
The health guru, who admits his own addiction to chocolate, explained that some people will put their health at risk and find it very difficult to lose weight because of an addiction they don’t even know they have.
Fortunately, the doctor has created a 10-question quiz based on the Yale Food Addiction Scale to help you find out about any secret food addictions in your life.
The brains behind the Just One Thing podcast shared that if you answer “yes” to more than three of the following questions, then “you may be in trouble”:
- When I start eating this food, I can’t stop and end up eating much more than I intended.
- I keep on eating this food even when I am no longer hungry.
- I eat to the point where I feel physically ill.
- I find myself craving this food when I’m stressed.
- If it isn’t in the house, I will get in the car and drive to the nearest shop that sells it.
- I use this food to make myself feel better.
- I hide this food so even those close to me don’t know how much of it I eat.
- Eating it causes anxiety and feelings of self-loathing and guilt.
- Although I no longer get much pleasure from eating it, I keep on doing so.
- I have tried to give this food up but failed.
Writing in MailOnline, Dr Mosley explained that addiction is triggered by a “dopamine hit” in the brain – a sudden rush of happiness chemicals which your brain tries to replicate time and again.
This means you can become addicted to something that is very unhealthy for you because it “makes your brain happy”.
The doctor said: “A study last year in the journal Cell showed daily consumption of high-fat/high-sugar snacks rewires the brain so we seek more of these foods.”
He added that if you have a problem, you should speak to your doctor who can signpost you to the help you need.
