If Certain Foods are Addictive, How Might this Change the Treatment of Compulsive Overeating and Obesity?

Abstract

This review summarizes the evidenceboth current and from an historic perspectivethat many processed foods, specifically those in which the palatability has been enhanced with sugar, fat, and salt, have addictive properties similar to drugs such as nicotine, alcohol, and stimulants. The addictive potential of these foods thereby adds to a growing acceptance of 'food addiction' as a viable clinical entity and an important area for further investigation. The evidence that some cases of binge eating disorder can best be conceptualized as a food addiction also has important treatment implications for those suffering from compulsive overeating. This review also discusses the utility of interventions such as motivational interviewing, psychoeducational programs focused on the neurobiologic aspects of excessive consumption of hyper-palatable foods, and the development of cognitive behavioral strategies to increase an individual's ability to tolerate food cravings as temporary states, and better inhibit urges to overeat.

Food Addiction and Bulimia Nervosa

“…Russel-Mayhew, von Ranson, & Masson, 2010), which is usually considered contraindicated in the treatment of BN (Wilson, 2010). Techniques such as motivational interviewing or acceptance-oriented imagery to cope with urges may be adapted from SUD treatments to enhance motivation to change and dealing with food cravings (Davis & Carter, 2014). Finally, pharmacotherapy targeting opioid and dopaminergic neurotransmitter systems have been shown to be effective in SUD treatments and may also be helpful in reducing binge eating (Davis & Carter, 2014;Hadad & Knackstedt, 2014).…”

Effects of olfactory sense on chocolate craving

“…• The word addiction first appeared in an 1890 health journal in reference to chocolate (Davis & Carter, 2014). …”

The epidemiology and genetics of binge eating disorder (BED)

“…On the one hand, there is clear evidence that certain foods have properties similar to addictive substances in their ability to elicit specific brain and behavioral responses. 55 On the other hand, it is also wellestablished that the act of consuming a tasty meal is itself a hedonically rewarding experience. 56 Attempts to distinguish between food and eatingand which is most important in contributing to excessive and compulsive ingestion of a highly palatable dietare in the same spirit as trying to separate the effects of nicotine from the act of smoking in those who are addicted to cigarettes.…”