Flickr: Big Fat Rat

​Not that we didn't come to this conclusion on our own after watching Supersize Me, but scientists in Florida have completed an experiment involving rats and junk food that offers proof (at least in rats) that fast/junk food is indeed addictive.

According to an article in MedicineNet.com, the study involved a group of rats fed nothing but pound cake, bacon, candy bars and other junk food. The rats, who literally thought they had died and gone to heaven, developed such a compulsion to eat that they would continue chowing down, even after receiving an unpleasant little electric shock, while their unlucky brethren (the control group) that had been fed healthy stuff, ate normally and stopped after receiving the shock. 

*more after the jump

When their junk food was replaced with healthier alternatives, the rats seemed to go on a voluntary hunger strike for up to 2 weeks. We're pretty sure these might be the smartest lab rats ever.

Measuring brain chemicals, the scientists also noticed similarities associated with heroine and cocaine addiction.

No word on when the test will be done on humans, but we do know a lot of people that will volunteer for the study when available.