What Is the Evidence for “Food Addiction?” A Systematic Review

Abstract

The diagnostic construct of “food addiction” is a highly controversial subject. The current systematic review is the first to evaluate empirical studies examining the construct of “food addiction” in humans and animals. Studies were included if they were quantitative, peer-reviewed, and in the English language. The 52 identified studies (35 articles) were qualitatively assessed to determine the extent to which their findings indicated the following addiction characteristics in relation to food: brain reward dysfunction, preoccupation, risky use, impaired control, tolerance/withdrawal, social impairment, chronicity, and relapse. Each pre-defined criterion was supported by at least one study. Brain reward dysfunction and impaired control were supported by the largest number of studies (n = 21 and n = 12, respectively); whereas risky use was supported by the fewest (n = 1). Overall, findings support food addiction as a unique construct consistent with criteria for other substance use disorder diagnoses. The evidence further suggests that certain foods, particularly processed foods with added sweeteners and fats, demonstrate the greatest addictive potential. Though both behavioral and substance-related factors are implicated in the addictive process, symptoms appear to better fit criteria for substance use disorder than behavioral addiction. Future research should explore social/role impairment, preoccupation, and risky use associated with food addiction and evaluate potential interventions for prevention and treatment.

Food addiction: A transdiagnostic construct of increasing interest

“…As reported in previous reviews Treasure et al, 2018;Hebebrand et al, 2014;Volkow & Wise, 2005;Volkow et al, 2017;Gordon, Ariel-Donges, Bauman, & Merlo, 2018), proponents of the FA model argue that there is sufficient scientific evidence to show that intake of certain high-calorie/palatable foods and addictive drugs produce similar neural responses (linked to reward pathways modulated by dopamine) and therefore, to some extent, support the assumption that some types of overeating and obesity constitute a food addiction (Gearhardt, Davis, Kuschner, & Brownell, 2011;Schulte, Avena, & Gearhardt, 2015;Schulte, Yokum, Potenza, & Gearhardt, 2016;Smith & Robbins, 2013;Wiss, Criscitelli, Gold, & Avena, 2017;Michaud, Vainik, Garcia-Garcia, & Dagher, 2017).…”

“…One argument is that “food addiction” is incorrect as it may be the act of eating rather than the substance itself (the food) which is addictive and the term “eating addiction” may be more appropriate (Hebebrand et al, ), In this regard, some groups are interested in the parallels between the FA construct and behavioral addictions, where “substance” is not per se crucial, but the behavior itself (in that case gambling, gaming, or buying) (Jiménez‐Murcia et al, ; Granero et al, ). However, other groups will have a different view and will continue to see the substance use disorder model as the most appropriate to describe this construct (Gordon et al, ; Schulte, Potenza, & Gearhardt, ).…”

Food addiction and other addictive behaviours in bariatric surgery candidates

“…An emerging literature has described addictive‐like responses to highly processed, palatable foods (i.e., high in salt, fat, and refined carbohydrates) in humans that mirror addictive behaviours (Gearhardt, Corbin, & Brownell, ; Lindgren et al, ; Long, Blundell, & Finlayson, ), suggesting that vulnerable individuals may exhibit so called “food addiction” (FA; Gordon, Ariel‐Donges, Bauman, & Merlo, ; Lindgren et al, ; Polk, Schulte, Furman, & Gearhardt, ). In most studies, FA was assessed with the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS; Gearhardt, Corbin, & Brownell, ).…”

“…Past research indicated that some patients may suffer from multiple addiction problems at the same time (Konkolÿ Thege, Hodgins, & Wild, ; Sussman, Lisha, & Griffiths, ) and that others may experience the replacement of one substance or habit by another (i.e., addiction transfer; Blum et al, ). Although several authors related the substance‐use disorder framework to the FA concept (Davis et al, ; Gearhardt et al, ; Gordon et al, ; Grosshans et al, ; Lindgren et al, ; Long et al, ; Polk et al, ), research concerning the link between FA and other addictive behaviours is still scant. The few studies that assessed both FA and substance use disorder symptoms in preoperative samples failed to find an association between YFAS scores and measures for alcohol, drug, or nicotine use disorders (Ivezaj et al, ; Koball et al, ; Meule et al, ), which is similar to results from a community‐based sample (Nunes‐Neto et al, ).…”

Food addiction and preoperative weight loss achievement in patients seeking bariatric surgery

“…Even though food addiction (FA) is not included as a disorder in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it shows an increasing interest among the eating disorders and obesity scientific community (Chao et al, 2017;Gordon, Ariel-Donges, Bauman, & Merlo, 2018). FA is generally characterized by the loss of control over the consumption of salty, sugary, and processed foods and continued consumption despite adverse physical and psychological consequences (Gearhardt, Corbin, & Brownell, 2009;Treasure, Leslie, Chami, & Fernández-Aranda, 2018).…”