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Food Addiction and Binge Eating
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Food Addiction and Binge Eating

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 28894

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Marta Garrido Novelle

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Avd. Barcelona, s/n, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Interests: regulation of energy homeostasis; metabolic syndrome; hedonic food intake; eating disorders; animal models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The feeding process is required for basic life and tightly regulated according to the demands of the internal milieu by regulatory brain circuits. However, during recent years, there is a piece of growing evidence that certain foods may be addictive, and under some circumstances, people could become addicted to food or to eating behavior causing neuronal changes and a chronic perturbation in brain reward and homeostasis systems. While the drug addiction process has been highly characterized, eating addiction/food addiction is a nascent field, and there is still substantial controversy about it among the scientific community. Obese and overweight individuals also show habits of eating behaviors that evoke the ways in which addicted individuals consume drugs.

In this context, both scientific and clinical questions remain unclear: Can we talk about food addiction? Is food addiction a substance or behavioral addiction? Can overeating become a pathologic attachment to food? Should obesity be treated as food addiction? Should we distinguish food addiction from other conditions of eating disorders like binge eating disorder? This Special Issue will explore a wide range of scientific and clinical aspects to elucidate the open questions with a special interest in the addictive nature of food in the context of overeating, food addiction, and obesity.

Dr. Marta Garrido Novelle
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • food addiction
  • food cues
  • reward
  • obesity
  • food behavior
  • binge eating
  • eating addiction

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 304 KiB  
Article
Very-Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet: A Potential Treatment for Binge Eating and Food Addiction Symptoms in Women. A Pilot Study
by Elvira Rostanzo, Marco Marchetti, Ilenia Casini and Anna Maria Aloisi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12802; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182312802 - 04 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3687
Abstract
Background: many patients who struggle to lose weight are unable to cut down certain ultra-processed, refined types of food with a high glycemic index. This condition is linked to responses similar to addiction that lead to overeating. A very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) with [...] Read more.
Background: many patients who struggle to lose weight are unable to cut down certain ultra-processed, refined types of food with a high glycemic index. This condition is linked to responses similar to addiction that lead to overeating. A very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) with adequate protein intake could be considered a valid dietary approach. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of a VLCKD in women with binge eating and/or food addiction symptoms. Methods: subjects diagnosed with binge eating and/or food addiction symptoms (measured with the Binge Eating Scale and the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0) were asked to follow a VLCKD with protein replacement for 5–7 weeks (T1) and a low-calorie diet for 11–21 weeks (T2). Self-reported food addiction and binge eating symptoms and body composition were tested at T0 (baseline) and at the end of each diet (T1 and T2 respectively); Results: five women were included in the study. Mean age was 36.4 years (SEM = 4.95) and mean BMI was 31.16 (SEM = 0.91). At T0, two cases of severe food addiction, one case of mild food addiction, one case of binge eating with severe food addiction, and one case of binge eating were recorded. Weight loss was recorded at both T1 and T2 (ranging from 4.8% to 11.6% of the initial body weight at T1 and from 7.3% to 12.8% at T2). No case of food addiction and/or binge eating symptoms was recorded at T2. Muscle mass was preserved. Conclusions: recent findings have highlighted the potential therapeutic role of ketogenic diets for the treatment of addiction to high-calorie, ultra-processed and high-glycemic food. Our pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of a ketogenic diet in women with addictive-like eating disorders seeking to lose weight. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Addiction and Binge Eating)
14 pages, 542 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Influence of Eating Patterns on Binge Drinking: A Mediation Model
by Tamara Escrivá-Martínez, Laura Galiana, Rocío Herrero, Marta Rodríguez-Arias and Rosa Mª Baños
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(24), 9451; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17249451 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2563
Abstract
Background: Binge drinking is an important health problem, and it has been related to binge eating and fat intake in animal models, but this relationship has not been tested in humans. The first objective of this study was to analyze whether binge eating [...] Read more.
Background: Binge drinking is an important health problem, and it has been related to binge eating and fat intake in animal models, but this relationship has not been tested in humans. The first objective of this study was to analyze whether binge eating and fat intake are related to binge drinking in a youth sample. The second objective was to analyze whether binge eating and fat intake mediate the relationship between individual factors associated with binge eating and fat intake (sex, body mass index (BMI), drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, eating styles, impulsivity, and food addiction) and binge drinking. Methods: A sample of 428 undergraduate students filled out several questionnaires on binge drinking, binge eating, fat intake, drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, eating styles, food addiction, and impulsivity. Results: Results showed an excellent model fit: χ2(25) = 30.342 (p = 0.212), comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.992, root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.022 [90% CI = 0.000, 0.047]. Binge eating and fat intake were positively related to binge drinking. Furthermore, emotional eating, external eating, and food addiction showed positive and statistically significant indirect relationships with binge drinking, whereas the relationship with restrained eating was negative. Conclusions: These findings point to the need to use a broader approach in understanding and preventing binge drinking in the youth population by showing the influence of the eating pattern on this problem. This information could be helpful in preventing future behaviors and improving interventions that address health risk behaviors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Addiction and Binge Eating)
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Review

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19 pages, 2849 KiB  
Review
Decoding the Role of Gut-Microbiome in the Food Addiction Paradigm
by Marta G. Novelle
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 6825; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18136825 - 25 Jun 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4564
Abstract
Eating behaviour is characterised by a solid balance between homeostatic and hedonic regulatory mechanisms at the central level and highly influenced by peripheral signals. Among these signals, those generated by the gut microbiota have achieved relevance in recent years. Despite this complex regulation, [...] Read more.
Eating behaviour is characterised by a solid balance between homeostatic and hedonic regulatory mechanisms at the central level and highly influenced by peripheral signals. Among these signals, those generated by the gut microbiota have achieved relevance in recent years. Despite this complex regulation, under certain circumstances eating behaviour can be deregulated becoming addictive. Although there is still an ongoing debate about the food addiction concept, studies agree that patients with eating addictive behaviour present similar symptoms to those experienced by drug addicts, by affecting central areas involved in the control of motivated behaviour. In this context, this review tries to summarise the main data regarding the role of the gut microbiome in eating behaviour and how a gut dysbiosis can be responsible for a maladaptive behaviour such as “food addiction”. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Addiction and Binge Eating)
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Other

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10 pages, 343 KiB  
Commentary
Sugars and Sweet Taste: Addictive or Rewarding?
by Danielle Greenberg and John V. St. Peter
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(18), 9791; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18189791 - 17 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 10308
Abstract
The notion of food “addiction” often focuses on the overconsumption of sweet tasting foods or so-called sugar “addiction”. In the extreme, some have suggested that sugar and sweet tastes elicit neural and behavioral responses analogous to those observed with drugs of abuse. These [...] Read more.
The notion of food “addiction” often focuses on the overconsumption of sweet tasting foods or so-called sugar “addiction”. In the extreme, some have suggested that sugar and sweet tastes elicit neural and behavioral responses analogous to those observed with drugs of abuse. These concepts are complicated by the decades long uncertainty surrounding the validity and reproducibility of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) methodologies used to characterize neurobiological pathways related to sugar and sweet taste stimuli. There are also questions of whether sweet taste or post-ingestion metabolic consequences of sugar intake would lead to addiction or excessive caloric intake. Here, we present a focused narrative review of literature related to the reward value of sweet taste which suggests that reward value can be confounded with the construct of “addictive potential”. Our review seeks to clarify some key distinctions between these constructs and questions the applicability of the addiction construct to human over-eating behaviors. To adequately frame this broad discussion requires the flexibility offered by the narrative review paradigm. We present selected literature on: techniques used to link sugar and sweet tastes to addiction neurobiology and behaviors; sugar and sweet taste “addiction”; the relationship of low calorie sweetener (LCS) intake to addictive behaviors and total calorie intake. Finally, we examined the reward value of sweet tastes and contrasted that with the literature describing addiction. The lack of reproducibility of fMRI data remains problematic for attributing a common neurobiological pathway activation of drugs and foods as conclusive evidence for sugar or sweet taste “addiction”. Moreover, the complicated hedonics of sweet taste and reward value are suggested by validated population-level data which demonstrate that the consumption of sweet taste in the absence of calories does not increase total caloric intake. We believe the neurobiologies of reward value and addiction to be distinct and disagree with application of the addiction model to sweet food overconsumption. Most hypotheses of sugar “addiction” attribute the hedonics of sweet foods as the equivalent of “addiction”. Further, when addictive behaviors and biology are critically examined in totality, they contrast dramatically from those associated with the desire for sweet taste. Finally, the evidence is strong that responses to the palatability of sweets rather than their metabolic consequences are the salient features for reward value. Thus, given the complexity of the controls of food intake in humans, we question the usefulness of the “addiction” model in dissecting the causes and effects of sweet food over-consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Addiction and Binge Eating)
16 pages, 450 KiB  
Commentary
Overeaters Anonymous: An Overlooked Intervention for Binge Eating Disorder
by Brenna Bray, Boris C. Rodríguez-Martín, David A. Wiss, Christine E. Bray and Heather Zwickey
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(14), 7303; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18147303 - 08 Jul 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6294
Abstract
The purpose of this communication is to provide an overview as well as the strengths and weaknesses of Overeaters Anonymous (OA) as an intervention for binge eating disorder treatment. Binge eating disorder is associated with low remission rates, high relapse rates, treatment dissatisfaction, [...] Read more.
The purpose of this communication is to provide an overview as well as the strengths and weaknesses of Overeaters Anonymous (OA) as an intervention for binge eating disorder treatment. Binge eating disorder is associated with low remission rates, high relapse rates, treatment dissatisfaction, and high rates of failure to receive treatment attributed to stigma, misconceptions, lack of diagnosis, access to care, and inadequate insurance coverage. New interventions are needed that can overcome these barriers. OA is a twelve-step program and established fellowship for individuals who self-identify as having problematic relationships with food or eating. OA can be referred clinically or sought out by an individual confidentially, without a diagnosis, and free of charge. OA’s Nine Tools, Twelve Steps, and Twelve Traditions can provide structure, social support, and open, anonymous sharing that fosters a sense of connection and belonging. This may provide benefit to individuals who value structure and social support in their recovery. The tradition of anonymity may also create some challenges for conducting research and may explain the shortage of empirical support. This commentary reviews existing research findings on the effectiveness of twelve-step interventions and OA. Common misunderstandings about and within OA are also addressed and OA’s limitations are discussed. Overall, OA provides a promising option for binge eating disorder treatment that warrants clinical research on its feasibility and efficacy in a way that respects and protects its tradition of anonymity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Addiction and Binge Eating)
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