Is Ultra-Processed Food Addiction Real? A Critical Perspective and Discussion of Health Inequities

A Part of SunCloud's Continuing Education Series of Events

Is Ultra-Processed Food Addiction Real? A Critical Perspective and Discussion of Health Inequities

Presented By:
Dr. Erica LaFata November 15, 2024

Receive 1 CME/CE Credit

Learning Objectives:

  • Defining ultra-processed foods
  • Operationalizing ultra-processed food addiction
  • Be able to identify common categories of ultra-processed foods. Recognize the symptoms of ultra-processed food addiction as a novel clinical presentation.

Video: Watch the Presentation

Dr. Erica LaFata

Dr. Erica LaFata is an Assistant Research Professor at the Drexel University Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science and a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania. She earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan. Dr. LaFata’s program of research applies a cutting-edge perspective to understanding overeating and obesity by examining 1) how ultra-processed foods may be reinforcing in a manner that directly drives overeating, 2) whether core mechanisms of addictive disorders (e.g., withdrawal) may contribute to eating-related problems for vulnerable individuals, and 3) how ultra-processed food addiction may be a novel, clinically useful presentation to inform individualized interventions.

Dr. LaFata has investigated these empirical questions using a multi-method approach, including neuroimaging, scale development, food consumption paradigms, and self-report, and she has published over 40 academic papers and 5 book chapters on this topic. She is the recipient of a K23 Career Development Award, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), investigating whether ultra-processed foods high in added fats, refined carbohydrates, or both are most associated with biobehavioral indicators of addictive-like reinforcement. In 2024, Dr. LaFata was honored as an Association of Psychological Science Rising Star.

Joint Accreditation Statement:

Joint Accreditation Statement: In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Galen Mental Health.  Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Amedco Joint Accreditation #4008163.