Tag: science of food addiction

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Media Article: Wegovy is the New Methadone

What is this?

Dr. Peter Grinspoon’s article, “Wegovy is the New Methadone“, draws compelling parallels between addiction and obesity, suggesting that they share root causes and can be treated with similar approaches. He explores how GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic are showing promise in curbing cravings and promoting weight loss, much like methadone and Suboxone do for opioid addiction. The article also discusses the role of trauma, mental health, and societal stigma in both conditions. It offers a thought-provoking perspective on the interconnectedness of substance use disorders and behavioral addictions like overeating.

How can this help me?

If you struggle with food addiction, this article offers a new lens through which to understand your challenges. It highlights that cravings and the inability to control eating habits may stem from similar brain mechanisms as drug addiction. Learning about the potential of GLP-1 medications to reduce cravings and regulate appetite could provide hope for a different path forward. Furthermore, the article’s emphasis on the role of trauma and mental health may encourage you to seek support for underlying issues contributing to your food addiction.

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Media Article: Stress Eating and the Microbiome

photo of a woman holding her stomach

What is this?

The Psychology Today article, “Stress Eating and the Microbiome,” investigates the intricate relationship between gut bacteria, mood, and eating habits. It highlights that microbial dysfunction, rather than character weakness, may be the true underlying issue behind stress eating. The article emphasizes the bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut, illustrating how stress can disrupt the microbiome and lead to unhealthy food cravings. This resource provides valuable insights into how our gut health may influence our eating behaviors and emotional well-being.

How can this help?

If you’re struggling with food addiction, this article offers a new perspective on the drivers behind your cravings. By understanding the link between stress, your gut microbiome, and your eating behaviors, you can begin to explore strategies for rebalancing your gut health. While not a cure, this knowledge can empower you to make informed choices about your diet and lifestyle, potentially reducing the intensity of stress-related cravings and supporting your journey to recovery.

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Research Paper: The Obesity Epidemic: The Role of Addiction

What is this?

This 2010 article from the Canadian Medical Association Journal, “The Obesity Epidemic: The Role of Addiction“, explores the concept of “food addiction,” examining how compulsive overeating shares similarities with substance abuse. It delves into the neurological basis of food cravings, highlighting how highly palatable foods activate the same reward pathways in the brain as drugs. The authors discuss the role of genetics, environmental factors, and emotional states in contributing to compulsive overeating, suggesting that for some individuals, food can be misused in much the same way as other addictive substances.

How can this help me?

If you struggle with food addiction, this article provides a scientific perspective on the underlying mechanisms driving your behavior. It validates the experience of compulsive overeating as potentially stemming from biological vulnerabilities and environmental triggers, rather than simply a lack of willpower. Understanding that food addiction may involve similar brain processes as substance addiction can encourage you to seek evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or 12-step programs, that are traditionally used for other addictions. It may also decrease feelings of shame.

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Media Article: How Mom’s vs. Dad’s BMI May Affect Their Children

What is this?

This Psychology Today article (https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/your-brain-on-food/202502/how-moms-vs-dads-bmi-may-affect-their-children) explores the complex relationship between parental BMI and children’s weight, highlighting neural differences in food responses. Research suggests that children of overweight parents show altered brain activity when exposed to food cues. Specifically, children at higher obesity risk exhibited reduced neural responses to high-energy-density food cues in brain areas associated with attention and self-regulation. This insight adds depth to our understanding of the intricate interplay of brain function, environment, and learned behaviors.

How can this help me?

For those battling food addiction, this article offers valuable neurological insights that can be empowering. Understanding that children of obese parents show altered brain responses to food cues helps explain why some individuals struggle more with food regulation. This knowledge shifts the focus from personal failure to recognizing the complex biological factors at play. Armed with this information, food addicts can work with healthcare professionals to develop targeted strategies that address these neural patterns. This might include cognitive behavioral techniques to rewire responses to food cues, or exploring medications that influence relevant brain pathways. Recognizing these neurological underpinnings can also reduce shame and self-blame, potentially improving treatment outcomes and overall well-being.

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Event: Graduate Nutrition Seminar: Can Food be Addictive? The Science of Ultra-Processed Food Addiction

What is this?

The Graduate Nutrition Seminar “Can Food be Addictive? The Science of Ultra-Processed Food Addiction” is an upcoming event at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET. Ashley Gearhardt, PhD, Professor of Psychology University of Michigan, will explore the growing field of ultra-processed food addiction research, which has gained significant attention recently. With studies suggesting that ultra-processed foods may be as addictive as smoking, this event promises to delve into the latest scientific findings and their implications for public health.

Source: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/events/2025/02/04/graduate-nutrition-seminar-can-food-be-addictive-the-science-of-ultra-processed-food-addiction

How can this help me?

For those struggling with food addiction, this seminar offers valuable insights into the science behind their condition. Recent research estimates that ultra-processed food addiction affects 14% of adults and 12% of children, highlighting its prevalence. By attending or learning about this event, food addicts can gain a deeper understanding of the biological and behavioral mechanisms underlying their struggles. This knowledge may validate their experiences, reduce stigma, and potentially guide them towards more effective treatment options and strategies for managing their addiction.

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Research Paper: Psychological differences in food addiction and binge eating in a general Polish population

What is this?

Is binge eating a form of food addiction? Or is food addiction a sub-type of binge eating? Are they the same disorder or are they distinct? This study, published in the prestigious journal Nature, compares and contrasts the characteristics of these two disorders in the Polish population. The research reveals that while both disorders involve “eating a large quantity of food in a short amount of time,” they differ in crucial aspects. For example, “Patients with BED [binge eating disorder] typically exhibit episodes of disturbed behavior whereas patients with FA tend to show a continuous pattern of disturbed behavior”. By comparing and contrasting these two conditions, the research offers a fresh perspective on the complex relationship between psychology and eating behaviors.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-87057-w

How can this help me?

For those battling food addiction, this study offers validation and clarity. It provides scientific evidence that the struggles of food addicts are real and cannot be explained by a simple lack of willpower.

This paper defines food addiction as follows:

“[…] increased compulsive food intake, which in turn may lead to the loss of its hedonic value – a reduction in the enjoyment or pleasure derived from eating. Similar to other types of addiction, individuals with FA [food addiction] often consume larger amounts of food than intended and experience cravings, urges, or a strong desire to eat. They often report spending large amounts of time obtaining food, eating, or recovering from eating. Additionally, they mention a persistent desire for food and unsuccessful attempts to cut down on eating. They may report the necessity to eat more to reduce negative emotions or to increase pleasure, as well as withdrawal symptoms such as experiencing negative affect or physical symptoms when they stop eating. As with any addiction, FA causes clinically significant impairment and distress,”

By highlighting the psychological factors associated with food addiction, this study offers food addicts a deeper understanding of the condition. For example, the research distinguishes food addiction from BED, noting that food addicts “show tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, as well as the neglect of social connections, abandonment of other activities, and other symptoms.” This knowledge can be empowering, potentially leading to more effective treatment options and helping to explain the realities of food addiction to skeptics.

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Video: Irresistible: Why we can’t stop eating

What is this?

“Irresistible: Why We Can’t Stop Eating” is a one-hour BBC documentary presented by Dr. Chris van Tulleken that explores the world of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and their impact on our health. This Instagram reel is an excerpt from that documentary, but if you are in the UK, you can watch the full documentary here. The reel delves into why these foods are so addictive and how they have come to dominate our food culture. It features interviews with former food industry insiders who reveal the deliberate strategies used by food companies to make their products irresistible.

How can this help me?

This documentary can help food addicts by providing insight into the science behind food addiction and the deliberate tactics used by the food industry. It explains concepts like ‘vanishing caloric density,’ which can help viewers understand why certain foods are so hard to resist. By exposing the intentional design of ultra-processed foods to be addictive, it may empower viewers to make more informed choices about their diet and recognize that their struggles with food are not solely due to lack of willpower.

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Organization: Food and Addiction Science and Treatment Lab

What is this?

The Food and Addiction Science & Treatment (FAST) Lab investigates the links between obesity and substance use disorders, focusing on addictive eating behaviors. They use neuroimaging, behavioral studies, and simulated environments to explore how food cues impact desire.

How can this help me?

This organization does not directly provide support to individual food addicts, but their research contributes to understanding food addiction.

https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/fastlab/

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Research Journal: Eating and Weight Disorders – Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity

What is this?

Eating and Weight Disorders (https://link.springer.com/journal/40519) is a peer-reviewed journal focusing on eating disorders, obesity, and related topics. It publishes research on anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and obesity.

This journal also participates in a collection on “Food and Addiction” (https://link.springer.com/collections/didbdbicfe): “The aim of the Topical Collection on Food and Addiction is to collect invited articles or spontaneous manuscripts on comorbidity and the relations between eating/weight disorders and addictions. Food addiction is not yet an official diagnostic category (the only behavioral addiction recognized by DSM-5 is gambling addiction). However a growing number of studies suggests that for some people eating becomes compulsive and even addictive with dangerous effects. The controversial and intriguing concept of food addiction is a subject of great and current interest for research in the field of obesity and eating disorders. “

How can this help me?

While not directly supporting food addicts, the journal provides valuable scientific insights that can inform treatment approaches and enhance understanding of food addiction and related disorders.

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Research Paper: Adverse childhood experiences among adults with eating disorders

Summary

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, are considered a significant public health crisis and are associated with mental and physical health problems later in life. The current study compared ACEs among a treatment-seeking sample of adults with eating disorders to a nationally representative sample, and found that patients with eating disorders reported higher ACEs scores. Within the eating disorder sample, females were more likely to report a history of sexual abuse than males. Four categories of ACEs emerged, representing four distinct clusters of ACEs item endorsement. Patients with binge eating disorder (BED) reported higher levels of ACEs than patients with anorexia nervosa – restricting subtype (AN-R). In addition, patients with other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) were more likely to be characterized by high levels of household dysfunction than patients with AN-R. Screening for adverse childhood experiences among patients with eating disorders should be part of standard care, and more broadly, providing children with safe environments may lessen the long-term development of several serious illnesses, including eating disorders.

Rienecke, R.D., Johnson, C., Le Grange, D. et al. Adverse childhood experiences among adults with eating disorders: comparison to a nationally representative sample and identification of trauma. J Eat Disord 10, 72 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-022-00594-x

 The article below explains this study in plain English.

https://www.psypost.org/2022/07/study-links-distinct-patterns-of-childhood-trauma-to-specific-eating-disorder-diagnoses-63547