Almost everyone has experienced a sudden urge to eat chocolate or a slice of pizza, even when hunger has long faded. What if such impulses are not just a weakness for tasty things, but a manifestation of real addiction? Why do some people develop intrusive cravings for unhealthy foods, while others easily do without “forbidden” treats? Can modern food products affect the brain the same way narcotic substances do? These questions concern experts around the world and provoke heated scientific debates.
What is food addiction?
The concept of “food addiction” is actively discussed in medicine, psychology, and among patients facing uncontrollable overeating. For example, members of Overeaters Anonymous use an analogy with Alcoholics Anonymous and structure treatment based on similar models. Nevertheless, there is officially no such diagnosis in the international DSM-5 classifier or in most medical standards.
Many specialists emphasize the difference between a concept that might aid recovery and a strict scientific definition. For some patients, the word “addiction” is important for self-acceptance; for others, it seems stigmatizing. Clinical psychologists note that, so far, it has not been possible to draw a clear boundary between compulsive overeating and ordinary food cravings.
Science tries to measure and prove food addiction
This terminological ambiguity is reflected in diagnostic methods as well. Scientists created the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) in 2009. This tool helps assess manifestations of food addiction based on criteria similar to those for disorders caused by psychoactive substances (DSM-5 updated in 2016). Studies using it have found that a number of symptoms do overlap with addiction, but there is no complete match.
A review of literature provides a contradictory picture. Some reviews (2018, 2019) concede the partial validity of the concept, especially for sweet and processed foods. Other researchers believe that this label may conceal different phenomena—from physiological needs to disordered eating during dieting. According to the authors themselves, the reliability of the estimates remains limited by the small number of studies and the heterogeneity of data.
Can foods act like drugs?
Recent studies show that certain types of food—mainly those high in sugar, fat, and salt—activate the same reward circuits in the brain where dopamine and endorphins “work.” For example, experiments detected changes in signal transmission in the pleasure centers of people with compulsive overeating, as well as reduced impulse control.
Possible signs of food addiction include:
- loss of control over the amount of food consumed,
- obsessive thoughts about food,
- withdrawal symptoms when trying to abstain,
- social problems and repeated attempts to limit consumption.
Nevertheless, according to leading specialists (O’Melia, Sell), no scientific field has yet provided unequivocal evidence that food addiction and drug addiction share the same nature. Sample sizes in such studies are usually small, and the methodology needs further refinement.
Which foods most often provoke loss of control and compulsion
Modern food technologists design recipes for intense taste, quick satiety, and a focus on combining fats and fast carbohydrates. According to Sell and recent reviews:
- a high glycemic index,
- addition of sugars and sweet syrups,
- presence of salt, spices, flavor enhancers,
- rapid absorption and small portion sizes enhance the desire to overeat.
Classic examples are chips, fast food, chocolate bars, sodas, and processed foods. Such foods trigger a “pleasure surge” in the brain, which forms an obsessive eating pattern.
Many people admit that similar emotions are triggered by video games, which have also become a mass hobby, as well as virtual gambling. According to www.twinspinca.com, after mass adoption of no-deposit free spins and other bonuses, online casinos have become more popular. Players enjoy not only the promotions, but also the thousands of games available right from a phone or computer, along with the sense of excitement these games provoke. Scientists believe that in such situations, the same areas of the brain are involved as when consuming tasty food.
Is there “withdrawal”, how to distinguish addiction, and why is the topic important?
Research to date does not demonstrate a complete match between food withdrawal and symptoms of drug withdrawal. Most patients may experience anxiety, depressed mood, and sleeping problems, but the more severe symptoms are recorded much less frequently. It is important to distinguish a strong craving from uncontrollable behavior, in which food starts to dominate life and interfere with social functioning.
The debate on the nature of food addiction is important not only for medicine but also for public health strategies. The more accurately science understands the mechanisms and risk factors, the more effective will be the assistance programs and prevention of disordered eating.
This shapes the image of a complex phenomenon at the intersection of biology, environment, and individual psychology. While science searches for clear answers, compassion and competent support remain key to a mindful approach to the problem of uncontrollable food cravings.