If you observe, from 1960 to 1970, the obesity rate remained relatively constant. However, after 1970, obesity rates surged across different groups of people various age groups, professional circles, and environmental conditions. Whether they lived in active environments or sedentary ones, whether they had diseases or not, studies show a sharp rise in obesity. Now, it is unlikely that the willpower of people from all these diverse backgrounds suddenly collapsed at the same time. This suggests that there might be a planned conspiracy something was introduced in the food manufacturing industry that led to an increase in junk food consumption. Processed foods were modified in such a way that people kept eating without feeling full.
For example, there is a famous slogan from a popular chips brand: "No one can eat just one." This means that you keep eating, eating, and eating. The way food feels multisensory plays a huge role in how much and what you want to eat. It depends on what you see, smell, touch, hear, and taste. Engineers and manufacturers in the food industry manipulate these factors very well to take full advantage of them.
Processed food effects
The majority of ultra-processed foods are very soft. The theory behind this is that you don’t get enough time to chew them properly, so your brain’s satiety center which signals that you are full does not activate, preventing you from stopping. The food industry uses a technique called Vanishing Caloric Density, meaning food melts in your mouth so quickly that it doesn’t send satiety signals to your brain, making you feel like you need to eat more.
Now, you may be wondering aren’t chips and biscuits crunchy? Have you ever noticed that when you put Pringles or Lay’s in your mouth and take a light bite, they dissolve almost instantly? This is because they are designed based on the Vanishing Caloric Density formula. Another crucial ingredient used in these foods is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), which is a modified form of the amino acid glutamate. It expands your taste buds, making food taste far more delicious than it actually is.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) dangers
This ingredient is found in nuggets, cookies, French fries, processed cereals, processed popcorn, processed sausages, and many other ultra-processed foods. MSG also increases cravings and appetite by raising insulin levels in your body. When blood insulin spikes, blood glucose levels drop rapidly, making you feel the urge to eat again, creating a cycle of overeating.
Food industry manipulation
Another strategy the food industry heavily relies on for marketing is sonic branding. Sonic branding refers to the specific sounds associated with certain foods. For instance, when you shake a cereal box or popcorn, it makes a crunching sound. When you open a soda bottle, the "hiss" and "psst" sounds are deliberately engineered. Food industry engineers carefully ensure that every time you open a soda can, it produces the exact sound they designed. This triggers your taste buds, making the food more appealing.
Junk food addiction
What the food industry aims to control is stomach share the amount of digestive space a company can occupy in the market through its products. Look at how they have occupied your food choices: you wake up and feel the need for a sugary cereal to start your day, a sugar-filled smoothie, or a protein bar. These ultra-processed foods contain an excessive amount of added sugar. People have stopped eating fresh vegetables and fruits and instead grab packaged vegetable sticks, assuming they are healthier. However, in reality, they are not healthy at all.