Obesity as a behavioral addiction: moving past quick fixes and the case for inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

This research article investigates the theoretical, clinical, and neurobiological foundations of obesity as a behavioral addiction, emphasizing its potential inclusion in future revisions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Using a narrative review methodology, the authors synthesized insights from diverse literature, focusing on studies examining the similarities between obesity and behavioral addiction. Key findings reveal notable parallels between compulsive overeating behaviors and the diagnostic criteria of substance use disorders, suggesting that hallmark symptoms of addiction are prevalent among individuals with obesity. Neurobiological research indicates that the mesolimbic dopamine system, integral to reward processing and reinforcement learning, is significantly involved in both substance addiction and maladaptive eating behaviors. The absence of formal diagnostic criteria for classifying obesity as an addiction complicates the formulation of effective interventions. The review concludes that framing certain eating behaviors within the addiction paradigm may enhance clinical outcomes, particularly in treatment planning and predictive outcomes. [NPID: DSM, addiction, dopamine, substance use, neurobiological, obesity]

Year: 2025

Reference: Gupta, M., Gupta, N., & Khurana, P. (2025). Obesity as a behavioral addiction: moving past quick fixes and the case for inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Academia Mental Health and Well-Being, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.20935/MHealthWellB7880

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