Neuroscience of Compulsive Eating Behavior

Abstract

A systematic characterization of compulsivity in pathological forms of eating has been proposed in the context of three functional domains: (1) habitual overeating; (2) overeating to relieve a negative emotional state; and (3) overeating despite aversive consequences. In this review, we provide evidence supporting this hypothesis and we differentiate the nascent field of neurocircuits and neurochemical mediators of compulsive eating through their underlying neuropsychobiological processes. A better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that lead to compulsive eating behavior can improve behavioral and pharmacological intervention for disorders of pathological eating.

Emotional overeating is common and negatively associated with alcohol use in normal-weight female university students

“…It would be of interest to identify specific food items towards which emotional eating might be targeted, and investigate whether or not alcohol mitigates their consumption in stressful situations. A better understanding of the neurobiological and neurocognitive mechanisms underlying compulsive and emotional eating would also improve prediction, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions related to disordered eating (Moore, Sabino, Koob, & Cottone, 2017;Val-Laillet et al, 2015). Interventional studies are also necessary to assess whether a causal relationship exists between DIO and disordered eating symptoms.…”

A behavioral and pharmacological characterization of palatable diet alternation in mice

“…A hypothesized major contributor to the rise in obesity and eating disorders is the high reinforcing efficacy of palatable food (i.e. food rich in sugars and/or fats), which is responsible for an increase in consumption (Avena and Gold, 2011; Berthoud, 2012; Gearhardt et al, 2011; Moore et al, 2017b; Morris et al, 2015). Furthermore, individuals will often resort to dieting or limiting dietary intake to low-calorie, “safe” foods, which are broadly less palatable than high-calorie foods, and abstain from “forbidden” food of high-calorie content and high palatability (Hofmann et al, 2014; Mela, 2001).…”

Nutritious or Delicious?

“…It is also supported by neurobiological evidence that suggests these two processes may be mediated by distinct neurochemical pathways [29]. This distinction is also thought to explain "irrational" eating behavior, whereby individuals crave or consume foods despite the negative consequences that result from eating those items [27,28,30]. Interestingly, their evidence that that states of hunger caused by food-deprivation increase the attractiveness of and motivation to eat highly palatable foods, without changing our perceived enjoyment of them [11,[31][32][33].…”

“…However, there is a significant body of evidence which suggests that hunger alters our desire to eat and that this change does not necessarily coincide with a change in our appraisal or enjoyment of food [9,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. This distinction between the enjoyment of food items ("liking") and the desire or motivation to eat them ("wanting") has been consistently observed in studies of both normal and compulsive eating behavior (See [20] and [27,28] for respective reviews). It is also supported by neurobiological evidence that suggests these two processes may be mediated by distinct neurochemical pathways [29].…”