Prospective Associations between Attitudes toward Sweet Foods, Sugar Consumption, and Cravings for Alcohol and Sweets in Early Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorders

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sweet liking (heightened preference for highly sweet solutions) is linked to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and relapse, as well as attitudes toward sweet foods – use of sugar to cope with negative affect (sweet-cope), and impaired control over sweet consumption (sweet-control). This prospective analysis of individuals with AUD (N= 26) participating in an Alcohol and Drug partial hospitalization program observed increases in self-reported sugar consumption and sweet craving from Time 1 (T1) to Time 2 (T2; 4 weeks later). Sweet-cope (T1) predicted T2 sweet craving. In an exploratory cross-lagged panel model, sweet-cope predicted sugar consumption and sweet craving at T1 and T2, and alcohol craving at T2. This pattern of results suggests the hypothesis that use of sugar to regulate negative affect may prove a novel, modifiable risk mechanism of the association between sweet liking and relapse. Sweet-cope may also prove an intervention target for improving nutrition and weight-related factors in early recovery. Future research in larger sample sizes is needed.