Give Now  »

wfiu logo
WFIU Public Radio

wtiu logo
WTIU Public Television

Choose which station to support!

Indiana Public Media | WFIU - NPR | WTIU - PBS

Warning: That Cone Could Be Habit-Forming

ice cream

Diminishing Returns



Jonesing for a scoop of ice cream? You could be addicted.

Researchers at Oregon Research Institute recently analyzed the neurological response of 151 adolescents to eating Häagen-Dazs milkshakes. What the scientists discovered -- with the help of fMRI technology -- is that regions of the brain responsible for enjoyment became less active with each dose of rich, chocolatey goodness.

Like Crack?



Alarmingly, this tendency parallels the diminished pleasure drug users experience as their synapses numb to the presence of habit-forming substances. It is this desensitization that drives addicts to consume in ever-increasing amounts.

While the jury is still out over whether or not people can be truly hooked on sugary and fatty foods, these findings might give consumers more reason to avoid the frozen desserts aisle.

Read More:



  • Can you get addicted to ice cream? Maybe, study shows (MSNBC)
  • Researchers say there are similarities between ice cream and crack (9News)
  • Drug Addiction (CareFlash)


Support For Indiana Public Media Comes From

About Earth Eats

Harvest Public Media