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Hyperpalatable Foods

Meaning

Hyperpalatable Foods are commercially formulated food products engineered to possess an optimized, highly reinforcing combination of fats, sugars, and sodium that maximally stimulate the brain’s reward centers, often overriding normal satiety and homeostatic hunger signals. These foods are characterized by a sensory profile that encourages consumption beyond physiological energy needs, leading to passive overconsumption and contributing significantly to metabolic dysregulation and obesity. Clinically, their consistent consumption is a major driver of insulin resistance and chronic inflammatory states. They are designed for maximum hedonic response.