With rising obesity rates, a lot is being said about food addiction and how it can be as dangerous as drug addiction. However, a new study by researchers from the University of Edinburgh found no strong similarities between the two types of addiction.
The researchers noted that the brain does not respond to nutrients in the same way as it does to addictive drugs such as heroin or cocaine. However, they did find that some people can develop a psychological compulsion to eat, driven by the positive feelings that the brain associates with eating.
"People try to find rational explanations for being overweight, and it is easy to blame food," Dr. John Menzies, Research Fellow in the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Integrative Physiology, said in a press statement. "Certain individuals do have an addictive-like relationship with particular foods and they can over-eat despite knowing the risks to their health. More avenues for treatment may open up if we think about this condition as a behavioral addiction rather than a substance-based addiction."
The researchers examined the scientific evidence for food addiction as a substance-based addiction. They noted that the current classification of mental disorders, which does not permit a formal diagnosis of eating addiction, could be redrawn. They also pointed out that more research would be needed to define a diagnosis of food addiction. They noted that this disorder can be likened to gambling addiction.
"There has been a major debate over whether sugar is addictive. There is currently very little evidence to support the idea that any ingredient, food item, additive or combination of ingredients has addictive properties, " added University of Gothenburg Professor Suzanne Dickson, coordinator of the NeuroFAST project.
The study was conducted at the Universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Gothenburg, Essen, Utrecht and Santiago de Compostela. Findings were published online in the journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.
