Food addiction, high-glycemic-Index carbohydrates, and obesity

Lennerz & Lennerz (2018) examined the literature on food addiction and the role of high-glycemic-index carbohydrates in triggering addictive symptoms in particular. The behavioral responses to certain foods were found to be similar to that seen with substances of abuse. In addition, food intake regulation and addiction relied on similar neurobiological circuits. The third piece of evidence that supported the concept of food addiction was the convergence in neurochemical- and brain activation patterns between individuals suffering from obesity/addiction. There is a wealth of similarities including the rapid shift in blood glucose and insulin levels elicited by high-glycemic-index carbohydrates, which was akin to the pharmacokinetics of addictive substances; glucose and insulin signal to the mesolimbic system to modify dopamine concentration just like drugs of abuse. There is evidence that sugar induces addiction-like craving, and self-reported problem foods are rich in high-glycemic-index carbohydrates, which makes these carbohydrates plausible triggers for food addiction. Lennerz & Lennerz (2018) presented the argument that food addiction is possibly one of the factors contributing to the diverse condition and phenotype that is obesity. [NPID: sugar, processed food, addiction, food addiction, neurochemical patterns, obesity, blood glucose, insulin, dopamine, craving]

Year: 2018

Reference: Lennerz, B., & Lennerz, J. K. (2018). Food Addiction, High-Glycemic-Index Carbohydrates, and Obesity. Clinical chemistry, 64(1), 64–71. https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2017.273532

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