Lemeshow, A. R., Gearhardt, A. N., Genkinger, J. M., & Corbin, W. R. (2016). Assessing the psychometric properties of two food addiction scales. Eating Behaviors, 23, 110–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2016.08.005 From the research article’s abstract: “While food addiction is well accepted in popular culture and mainstream media, its scientific validity as an addictive behavior is still under investigation. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Yale Food Addiction Scale and Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale using data from two community-based convenience samples. We assessed the internal and test-retest reliability of the Yale Food Addiction Scale and Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale, and estimated the sensitivity and negative predictive value of the Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale using the Yale Food Addiction Scale as the benchmark. We calculated Cronbach’s alphas and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for internal reliability and Cohen’s Kappa coefficients and 95% CIs for test-retest reliability. Internal consistency (n = 232) was marginal to good, ranging from α = 0.63 to 0.84. The test-retest reliability (n = 45) for food addiction diagnosis was substantial, with Kappa = 0.73 (95% CI, 0.48–0.88)
The neurobiological and behavioral overlaps of nicotine and food addiction
Criscitelli, K., & Avena, N. M. (2016). The neurobiological and behavioral overlaps of nicotine and food addiction. Preventive medicine, 92, 82–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.08.009 From the review article’s abstract: “Nicotine and highly palatable foods are capable of altering dopamine release within this system, engendering addictive like responses in susceptible individuals.”
The neurobiological and behavioral overlaps of nicotine and Food Addiction
Criscitelli, K., & Avena, N. M. (2016). The neurobiological and behavioral overlaps of nicotine and Food Addiction. Preventive medicine, 92, 82—89. https://doi.org/10.1016/i.ypmed.2016.08.009 Review criscitelli2016 .pdf
Chapter Four – Psychological and Neurobiological Correlates of Food Addiction
Kalon, E., Hong, J. Y., Tobin, C., & Schulte, T. (2016). Psychological and Neurobiological Correlates of Food Addiction. International Review of Neurobiology, 129, 85–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2016.06.003 From the research article’s abstract: “Food addiction (FA) is loosely defined as hedonic eating behavior involving the consumption of highly palatable foods (ie, foods high in salt, fat, and sugar) in quantities beyond homeostatic energy requirements. FA shares some common symptomology with other pathological eating disorders, such as binge eating. Current theories suggest that FA shares both behavioral similarities and overlapping neural correlates to other substance addictions. Although preliminary, neuroimaging studies in response to food cues and the consumption of highly palatable food in individuals with FA compared to healthy controls have shown differing activation patterns and connectivity in brain reward circuits including regions such as the striatum, amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and nucleus accumbens. Additional effects have been noted in the hypothalamus, a brain area responsible for regulating eating behaviors and peripheral satiety networks. ”
Chapter Four – Psychological and Neurobiological Correlates of Food Addiction
Kalon, E., Hong, J. Y., Tobin, C., & Schulte, T. (2016). Psychological and Neurobiological Correlates of Food Addiction. International review of neurobiology, 129, 85–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2016.06.003 From the chapter review’s abstract: “Neuroimaging studies in individuals with FA compared to healthy controls have shown differing activation patterns and connectivity in brain reward circuits including regions such as the striatum, amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and nucleus accumbens.”
Childhood trauma in obese and overweight women with food addiction and clinical-level of binge eating
Imperatori, C., Innamorati, M., Lamis, D. A., Farina, B., Pompili, M., Contardi, A., & Fabbricatore, M. (2016). Childhood trauma in obese and overweight women with food addiction and clinical-level of binge eating. Child abuse & neglect, 58, 180–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.06.023 From the clinical study’s key finding: “CT severity was moderately and positively associated with both FA (r=0.37) and BE (r=0.36) severity.”
Childhood trauma in obese and overweight women with food addiction and clinical-level of binge eating
Imperatori, C., Innamorati, M., Lamis, D. A., Farina, B., Pompili, M., Contardi, A., & Fabbricatore, M. (2016). Childhood trauma in obese and overweight women with food addiction and clinical-level of binge eating. Child Abuse & Neglect, 58, 180–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.06.023 From the research article’s abstract: “Childhood trauma (CT) is considered a major risk factor for several disorders as well as for the development of eating psychopathology and adult obesity. The main aims of the present study were to assess in overweight and obese women: (i) the independent association between CT and food addiction (FA), and (ii) CT in patients with both FA and clinical-level of binge eating (BE), versus patients who only engage in FA or BE. Participants were 301 overweight and obese women seeking low-energy-diet therapy. All of the patients were administered self-report measures investigating FA, BE, CT, anxiety and depressive symptoms. CT severity was moderately and positively associated with both FA (r = 0.37; p < 0.001) and BE (r = 0.36; p < 0.001) severity. The association between FA and CT remained significant after controlling for potential confounding variables.
Food addiction and the outcome of bariatric surgery at 1-year: Prospective observational study
Sevinçer, G. M., Konuk, N., Bozkurt, S., & Coşkun, H. (2016). Food addiction and the outcome of bariatric surgery at 1-year: Prospective observational study. Psychiatry Research, 244, 159-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.07.022 From the research article’s abstract: “Purposes: The objectives of the current study were to determine the prevalence of food addiction in bariatric surgery candidates and whether food addiction is associated with weight loss after bariatric surgery. Methods: This prospective observational study was performed on morbidly obese patients who had been found suitable for bariatric surgery. Follow-up was conducted at the 6 and 12 month post-surgery. The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) was used to determine food addiction. Results: One hundred seventy-eight patients were included. Pre-operative food addiction was found in 57.8% of patients. Food addiction prevalence decreased at the 6 and 12 month follow ups, to 7.2% and 13.7% respectively. There were no statistically differences between those with food addiction and those without addiction with regard to weight loss measured as percent of excess BMI at the 12 month follow-up. Conclusion:
Sugar addiction: the state of the science
Westwater, M. L., Fletcher, P. C., & Ziauddeen, H. (2016). Sugar addiction: the state of the science. European Journal of Nutrition, 55(Suppl 2), 55-69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1229-6 From the research article’s abstract: “Purpose As obesity rates continue to climb, the notion that overconsumption reflects an underlying ‘food addiction’ (FA) has become increasingly influential. An increasingly popular theory is that sugar acts as an addictive agent, eliciting neurobiological changes similar to those seen in drug addiction. In this paper, we review the evidence in support of sugar addiction. Methods We reviewed the literature on food and sugar addiction and considered the evidence suggesting the addictiveness of highly processed foods, particularly those with high sugar content. We then examined the addictive potential of sugar by contrasting evidence from the animal and human neuroscience literature on drug and sugar addiction. Results We find little evidence to support sugar addiction in humans, and findings from the animal literature suggest that addiction-like behaviours, such as bingeing, occur only in the context of intermittent access to sugar.
The Neurobiology of Food Addiction and Its Implications for Obesity Treatment and Policy
Carter A, Hendrikse J, Lee N, Yücel M, Verdejo-Garcia A, Andrews Z, Hall W. The Neurobiology of “Food Addiction” and Its Implications for Obesity Treatment and Policy. Annu Rev Nutr. 2016 Jul 17;36:105-28. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nutr-071715-050909 . Epub 2016 Jun 1. Review. Argues that use of FA as diagnostic category is premature carter2015 .pdf