Chapter 12 - Modeling and testing compulsive eating behaviors in animals

Abstract

The study of compulsive eating has been swiftly gaining attention in both preclinical and clinical research. Compulsive eating behaviors characterize forms of obesity and eating disorders and can be conceptualized as being composed of three main elements: (1) habitual overeating, (2) overeating to alleviate a negative emotional state, and (3) overeating despite negative consequences. At a preclinical level, developing appropriate and clinically relevant animal models and behavioral tests has been a barrier to investigating the neurobiological substrates of compulsive eating with the purpose of refining pharmacological interventions for these disorders. Throughout this review, we will first describe the tests used to measure compulsive eating as defined by the three aforementioned elements. We will then detail the strategies used to develop animal models by describing the experimental manipulations that are most commonly used to facilitate development of compulsive eating behavior. Retuning the methodological approach toward compulsive eating behavior is essential to understand the complex mechanisms underlying the maladaptive food intake in forms of obesity and eating disorders.