With alarming obesity rates on an annual basis, Americans are often accused of being imprisoned by their deadly addictions to fast food and ultra-processed junk.

The Post has followed myriad studies over the years as scientists reveal more of the ways that ultra-processed, high sugar and carb-rich foods are wreaking havoc on our health — by hooking consumers with chemically engineered additives and flavors designed to be irresistible.

Meanwhile, junk foods have been known to screw with your everyday life, from what goes on in the bedroom to what’s going on in the brain.

So, for those struggling to make good on their promise to eat whole, healthy foods this year, The Post offers an (aggressive) reminder to help you beat the odds — and kick junk foods for good.

A study published late last year added further evidence that phthalates, so-called “everywhere chemicals,” are particularly abundant in fast food dishes.

Researchers don’t know how exactly, but processed foods seemed to encourage more snacking.

Researchers found that these highly chemical-laden snacks, such as chips and fast food, may directly affect your brain’s memory center, as well as the amygdala, which regulates fear and caution, while foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and nuts, can improve memory function.

A viral video last summer by TikTok user Elif Kandemir revealed how some common snacks, fast food dishes and frozen meals have survived more that two years in a closet at home — a project reportedly conceived by her foodie mom.

“These foods shown here are ultra-processed foods that 80% of the UK consume on a regular basis.”.

One of the ways junk foods do this is by robbing your body of the nitric oxide it needs to keep blood vessels healthy and unconstricted