In America, ultra-processed foods are highly profitable due to people's addiction to them, according to Dr. Nicole Saphier.

Multiple food giants are facing legal action from a teen in Pennsylvania over ultra-processed foods.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Bryce Martinez, 18, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease at 16 after consuming ultra-processed foods throughout his childhood, is suing 11 food manufacturers for allegedly designing the foods to be addictive.

As of 2021, between 5% and 10% of American children were diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

The prevalence of NAFLD in children has increased in recent years due to the rise in childhood obesity, according to the NIDDK.

On "Fox & Friends Weekend," Dr. Nicole Saphier, a Planet Chronicle medical contributor, stated that the statistics are "unexpected but not surprising."

"For the past decade, we have observed the trend of American adults being overweight and having metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, and diabetes. Now, this issue is affecting our children as well."

According to Saphier, children often adopt the lifestyle choices of their parents, making sense.

Unfortunately, those lifestyle behaviors are now harming our children, she said.

The doctor concurred that "harmful consumerism" promotes products that can negatively affect health, similarly to "big tobacco," alcohol, and certain pharmaceuticals.

"Saphier stated that all of these substances have the potential for addiction because they stimulate our natural dopamine pathways, which are the brain's reward centers."

""Is the product benefiting the consumer or is it solely driven by profit if it is causing harm to the consumer, as Saphier questioned?" The truth is that people make money off addiction."

Saphier questioned the absence of parents in the aggressive marketing targeting of younger generations, as she observed this in the case of Bryce Martinez.

She added, "As individuals, we must hold ourselves accountable for some of this."

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"While there are harmful marketing campaigns and chemicals in our food supply, particularly accessible to lower-income populations, it is essential to consider our individual choices."

Planet Chronicle Digital’s Maria Lencki contributed to this report.