Ever wondered why junk food ruins any good thought out, sensible diet. Why do we crave sweets, fatty foods and why do they make us feel so euphorically good? New research has shown that it could be addictive, even possibly having the same effect as what cocaine has to the body. This will explain the rush of happy hormones and feeling of pure satisfaction after biting into your favourite chocolate or cheesecake.

The study found that after rats ate high-caloric, high-fat diets in great quantities, it lead to compulsive eating habits that resembled drug addiction.

The researchers found that eating large amounts of junk food gradually overloads the pleasure centres of the brain and eventually it crashes the centres making us want more junk food as there is the need to satisfy our craving. This ultimately leads to compulsive eating, eating unnecessarily and unconsciously and weight gain. The researchers do caution that the study might not translate directly to humans as it was a study conducted in rats, but they do give as a greater understanding of how the brain works.

But until such time the scientists have done more research let Women’s Health Magazine become your addiction instead and skip the junk food.