The role of reward circuitry and food addiction in the obesity epidemic: an update

Leigh & Morris (2018) examined the changes in the mesolimbic dopaminergic circuit (the primary component of the reward system) associated with exposure to highly palatable foods and obesity. Reports of addictive-like behaviors were limited and were restricted to experiments using models of binge eating. When such behaviors were examined, 10-25% of the sample population were found to have met the Yale Food Addiction Score criteria. It was clear that there was overlap in the behaviors attributed to food addiction and binge eating disorder, while food addiction scores also correlate considerably with measures of binge eating. The researchers remarked the need for further research to determine whether food addiction is both behaviourally and neurobiologically distinct from binge eating disorder, and to confirm that the neurological changes that occur on consumption of these highly palatable foods are associated with addiction-like behavior. [NPID: sugar, processed food, mesolimbic dopaminergic circuit, reward, obesity, binge eating, addiction, food addiction]

Year: 2018

Reference: Leigh, S. J., & Morris, M. J. (2018). The role of reward circuitry and food addiction in the obesity epidemic: An update. Biological psychology, 131, 31–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.12.013