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Advances in the Neurobiology of Food Addiction

  • Addictions (M Potenza and E DeVito, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To summarize recent neurobiological evidence for (1) the addictive potential of ultra-processed foods and (2) the utility of food addiction, defined by behavioral criteria, as a clinically meaningful type of disordered eating.

Recent Findings

Ultra-processed foods appear to be capable of triggering biobehavioral mechanisms associated with addiction (e.g., dopaminergic sensitization, enhanced motivation), whereas naturally occurring foods do not appear to produce addictive-like responses. Neuroimaging studies have elucidated parallel mechanisms in food addiction and substance-use disorders, including dopaminergic dysfunction, emotion dysregulation, and impulsivity. Emerging data has also suggested biological distinctions for individuals with food addiction evident by the brain-gut-microbiome connection, hormones, and genetics.

Summary

Existing evidence has yielded convincing findings for overlapping features of ultra-processed foods and drugs of abuse. Preliminary findings from neurobiological studies of individuals with food addiction have revealed similar neural pathways triggered by food and related stimuli as observed in prior studies of persons with substance-use disorders.

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Funding

AMC was supported, in part, by the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K23NR017209. KCA was supported, in part, by R01DK117488 and R01DK108628.

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  1. Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Erica M. Schulte, Ariana M. Chao & Kelly C. Allison

  2. Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science, Drexel University, Stratton Hall 233, 3201 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Erica M. Schulte

  3. University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Ariana M. Chao

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Correspondence to Erica M. Schulte.

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Erica M. Schulte is now at the Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science, Drexel University.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Addictions

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Schulte, E.M., Chao, A.M. & Allison, K.C. Advances in the Neurobiology of Food Addiction. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 8, 103–112 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40473-021-00234-9

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