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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 examines the theoretical, clinical, and neurobiological frameworks of obesity as a behavioral addiction, with potential implications for future revisions of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Utilizing a narrative review methodology, the study synthesizes findings from diverse sources, including theoretical literature, clinical studies, and neurobiological research. The literature search encompassed databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar, focusing on keywords related to obesity and behavioral addiction.
The findings indicate significant similarities between compulsive overeating patterns and the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders. Notable symptoms characteristic of addictive disorders are prevalent among individuals with obesity. Neurobiological research highlights the role of the mesolimbic dopamine system in both substance addiction and maladaptive eating behaviors, underscoring its importance in reward processing, motivation, and reinforcement learning.
However, the absence of formal diagnostic criteria for obesity as an addiction presents challenges in classification and targeted intervention strategies. The review concludes that reframing certain eating behaviors within the context of addiction may enhance clinical utility, particularly in treatment planning and predicting outcomes. [NPID: Obesity, addiction, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, reward, motivation, mesolimbic dopamine, substance use disorders]
Year: 2025
