Eating is addictive - food isn't?

tennisdude2004

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763414002140

LINK IS TO THE FULL PAPER


Abstract
"Food addiction" has become a focus of interest for researchers attempting to explain certain processes and/or behaviors that may contribute to the development of obesity. Although the scientific discussion on "food addiction" is in its nascent stage, it has potentially important implications for treatment and prevention strategies. As such, it is important to critically reflect on the appropriateness of the term "food addiction", which combines the concepts of "substance-based" and behavioral addiction. The currently available evidence for a substance-based food addiction is poor, partly because systematic clinical and translational studies are still at an early stage. We do however view both animal and existing human data as consistent with the existence of addictive eating behavior. Accordingly, we stress that similar to other behaviors eating can become an addiction in thus predisposed individuals under specific environmental circumstances. Here, we introduce current diagnostic and neurobiological concepts of substance-related and non-substance-related addictive disorders, and highlight the similarities and dissimilarities between addiction and overeating. We conclude that "food addiction" is a misnomer because of the ambiguous connotation of a substance-related phenomenon. We instead propose the term "eating addiction" to underscore the behavioral addiction to eating; future research should attempt to define the diagnostic criteria for an eating addiction, for which DSM-5 now offers an umbrella via the introduction on Non-Substance-Related Disorders within the category Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders.

diegops1

That is an excellent description of my problem, mindless stuffing of my mouth. Maybe if I kept my foot in it more I wouldn't have room for the food.

Jolinia

diegops1 wrote: »

That is an excellent description of my problem, mindless stuffing of my mouth. Maybe if I kept my foot in it more I wouldn't have room for the food.

Now that is a diet I've never tried that I'd be exceptionally good at! Or maybe I'd learn some tact if my foot literally caromed toward my mouth every time I utter something stupid.

lemurcat12

This has been discussed here before, and the distinction makes a lot of sense to me. I am reading the full paper, however, which is a nice link.

anaisbutterfly7

Thank you for the article!

Burt_Huttz

Ugh, no thanks, I've had enough of this topic for one day.

lindsayk324

Based just on anecdotal evidence, eating can be very addictive as a habit. I'm stressed? Eat. I'm sad? Eat. I'm celebrating? Eat. I'm bored? Eat. I also suspect that specific cravings can be influenced by an individual's gut microbiome, seeing as the microbiome changes depending on what you eat.

But that's a topic for a different thread

As for the review OP posted, neuro and behavior aren't really my specialty, but this line immediately jumped out at me:

It is readily evident that the complexity of the factors [[ie "differences [...] due to genetic, epigenetic, psychological, societal and environmental factors, some of which are interdependent"] that shape individual eating behavior preclude an over-interpretation of specific findings including those of animal models

(emphasis my own) That's something I kept in mind when reading through the unimpressive rodent model studies. Rodents are not a perfect model of human physiology, and definitely not of human psychology, which the authors even admit in this line:

Accordingly, caution is also warranted for translating results obtained in rodent models of “food addiction” to humans. Thus, rodents are usually offered single food substances or very simple combinations.

One of the only papers in there that supports the "obesity is genetic" claim is this one. It's a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) which are notorious for having shoddy causation-correlation statistics. I'd believe epigenetics before I'd believe genetics.

Ultimately, though, I think all of us here on MFP feel that it's more of an environmental factor than anything else. It's the result of personality traits. Obesity (ie gluttony and/or sloth) is not a psychological disease any more than lust, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, or pride.

PeachyCarol

herrspoons wrote: »

I'd advise everyone to read the paper, not just the abstract.

^This. It's eye opening and will show that the thread title is completely misleading.

MindySaysWhaaat

Do you ever begin to wonder if people post threads titled "addiction" or ones that have the word "addictive" in them simply because they know it's going to start a huge debate here on MFP? I was just reading another thread about someone who was claiming they were addicted to food and sugar, and tbh, I didn't even bother commenting on the actual post because I am sure it would have gotten lost in the crapstorm of comments.

If a person wants get past disordered eating (and that's what I prefer to call it) they have to learn how to stop demonizing food. I'm against calling anything off limits, and I don't advocate "cheat meals" because if you're "cheating" then that implies you think food is bad. It's all about learning how to not associate guilt with eating, and pair that with knowledge about moderation.

Food is not a harmful substance, but it can become harmful if you eat too much of it. It's simply a fuel for life.