Food addiction: a valid concept?

Paul J Kenny,Paul C Fletcher

doi:10.1038/s41386-018-0203-9

Abstract

Can food be addictive? What does it mean to be a food addict? Do common underlying neurobiological mechanisms contribute to drug and food addiction? These vexing questions have been the subject of considerable interest and debate in recent years, driven in large part by the major health concerns associated with dramatically increasing body weights and rates of obesity in the United States, Europe, and other regions with developed economies. No clear consensus has yet emerged on the validity of the concept of food addiction and whether some individuals who struggle to control their food intake can be considered food addicts. Some, including Fletcher, have argued that the concept of food addiction is unsupported, as many of the defining features of drug addiction are not seen in the context of feeding behaviors. Others, Kenny included, have argued that food and drug addiction share similar features that may reflect common underlying neural mechanisms. Here, Fletcher and Kenny argue the merits of these opposing positions on the concept of food addiction.

Highlights

Can food be addictive? What does it mean to be a food addict? Do common underlying neurobiological mechanisms contribute to drug and food addiction? These vexing questions have been the subject of considerable interest and debate in recent years, driven in large part by the major health concerns associated with dramatically increasing body weights and rates of obesity in the United States, Europe, and other regions with developed economies
The application of the term “food addiction” in humans is based on a set of features, held to resemble substance addictions
As an explanation for the often-distressing cravings, loss of control, and overconsumption experienced by many, in relation to highly palatable foods, has been with us for many years [2] and, having more latterly becomes a focus for direct scientific study, the model has sought support in two broad sets of work

Summary

Introduction

Can food be addictive? What does it mean to be a food addict? Do common underlying neurobiological mechanisms contribute to drug and food addiction? These vexing questions have been the subject of considerable interest and debate in recent years, driven in large part by the major health concerns associated with dramatically increasing body weights and rates of obesity in the United States, Europe, and other regions with developed economies. I have framed the arguments below in the context of overweight and obesity, but this should not disguise the fact that many lean individuals suffer from patterns of dysregulated eating that share many features with SUDs. Three of the most important clinical features of SUDs are feelings of deprivation when the substance is withheld, a propensity to relapse during periods of abstinence, and consumption that persists despite awareness of negative health, social, financial, or other consequences.

Results

Conclusion