Locke, A. E., Kahali, B., Berndt, S. I., Justice, A. E., Pers, T. H., Day, F. R., Powell, C., Vedantam, S., Buchkovich, M.(7538), 197–206. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14177 From the research article’s abstract: “Obesity is heritable and predisposes to many diseases. To understand the genetic basis of obesity better, here we conduct a genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used to define obesity and assess adiposity, in up to 339,224 individuals. This analysis identifies 97 BMI-associated loci (P < 5 × 10−8), 56 of which are novel. Five loci demonstrate clear evidence of several independent association signals, and many loci have significant effects on other metabolic phenotypes. The 97 loci account for ∼2.7% of BMI variation, and genome-wide estimates suggest that common variation accounts for >20% of BMI variation. Pathway analyses provide strong support for a role of the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and implicate new genes and pathways, including those related to synaptic function, glutamate signalling, insulin secretion/action, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.”
Neural Responses to Macronutrients: Hedonic and Homeostatic Mechanisms
Tulloch, A. J., Murray, S., Vaicekonyte, R., & Avena, N. M. (2015). Neural responses to macronutrients: hedonic and homeostatic mechanisms. Gastroenterology, 148(6), 1205–1218. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2014.12.058 From the research article’s abstract: “The brain responds to macronutrients via intricate mechanisms. We review how the brain’s neural systems implicated in homeostatic control of feeding and hedonic responses are influenced by the ingestion of specific types of food. We discuss how these neural systems are dysregulated in preclinical models of obesity. Findings from these studies can increase our understanding of overeating and, perhaps in some cases, the development of obesity. In addition, a greater understanding of the neural circuits affected by the consumption of specific macronutrients, and by obesity, might lead to new treatments and strategies for preventing unhealthy weight gain.”
Why are we consuming so much sugar despite knowing too much can harm us?
Avena, N. M., Potenza, M. N., & Gold, M. S. (2015). Why are we consuming so much sugar despite knowing too much can harm us? JAMA internal medicine, 175(1), 145—146. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.6968 Avena article is a review Comment link
Hormonal and Dietary Characteristics in Obese Human Subjects with and without Food Addiction
Pedram, P., & Sun, G. (2014). Hormonal and Dietary Characteristics in Obese Human Subjects with and without Food Addiction. Nutrients, 7(1), 223-238. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7010223 From the research article’s abstract: “The concept of food addiction (FA) is a potentially important contributing factor to the development of obesity in the general population; however, little is known about the hormonal and dietary differences between obesity with and without FA. Therefore, the aim of our study was to explore potential biomarkers, including various hormones and neuropeptides, which regulate appetite and metabolism, and dietary components that could potentially differentiate obesity with and without FA. Of the 737 adults recruited from the general Newfoundland population, 58 food-addicted and non-food-addicted overweight/obese individuals (FAO, NFO) matched for age, sex, BMI and physical activity were selected. A total of 34 neuropeptides, gut hormones, pituitary polypeptide hormones and adipokines were measured in fasting serum. We found that the FAO group had lower levels of TSH, TNF-α and amylin, but higher levels of prolactin, as compared to NFO group.
Evolutionary and neuropsychological perspectives on addictive behaviors and addictive substances: relevance to the “food addiction” construct
Davis, C. (2014). Evolutionary and neuropsychological perspectives on addictive behaviors and addictive substances: relevance to the “food addiction” construct. Subst Abuse Rehabil, 5, 129137. https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S56835 Review 24625542953f5d4c668c160b5579a62f .pdf
Food Addiction: An Evolving Nonlinear Science
Shriner, R., & Gold, M. (2014). Food addiction: an evolving nonlinear science. Nutrients, 6(11), 5370-5391. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6115370 From the research article’s abstract: “The purpose of this review is to familiarize readers with the role that addiction plays in the formation and treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes and disorders of eating. We will outline several useful models that integrate metabolism, addiction, and human relationship adaptations to eating. A special effort will be made to demonstrate how the use of simple and straightforward nonlinear models can and are being used to improve our knowledge and treatment of patients suffering from nutritional pathology. Moving forward, the reader should be able to incorporate some of the findings in this review into their own practice, research, teaching efforts or other interests in the fields of nutrition, diabetes, and/or bariatric (weight) management.”
Food Addiction: an evolving nonlinear science
Shriner, R., & Gold, M. (2014). Food Addiction: an evolving nonlinear science. Nutrients, 6(11), 5370-5391. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6115370 Supporters of Food Addiction science, however, address this argument in part by pointing out that many patients who identify themselves as Food Addicts do not necessarily like the foods they abuse, especially during their bingeing episodes. In other words, they may report less hedonic or liking valences toward food and more of a desire to avoid negative feelings or not wanting to feel bad when they are deprived access to their favorite foods of abuse along the lines outlined by Berridge [44] and Koob [41]. It has been our experience in the Living with Food Program at the University of Florida that many of our patients disliked the very foods they tended to abuse, but felt compelled to continue to abuse them. In an attempt to account for this phenomenon the Tripartite Model includes the designation of addiction, instead of confining this level to the simple designation of hedonia, even though such addiction may involve at least initially hedonic drivers, again, as described by Berridge and Koob. shriner2014 .pdf
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Food Addiction in Women by Timing and Type of Trauma Exposure
Mason, S. M., Flint, A. J., Roberts, A. L., Agnew-Blais, J., Koenen, K. C., & Rich-Edwards, J. W. (2014). Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and food addiction in women by timing and type of trauma exposure. JAMA Psychiatry, 71(11), 1271–1278. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.1208 From the research article’s abstract: “Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appears to increase obesity risk but the pathways by which PTSD leads to weight gain are not known. Identification of the links between PTSD and obesogenic eating behaviors is necessary to clarify this pathway and inform development of obesity prevention strategies in PTSD-affected populations. To determine whether women with PTSD symptoms are more likely to report food addiction, a measure of perceived dependence on food, than women without PTSD symptoms. Also, to determine whether age at PTSD symptom onset and type of trauma influence the PTSD–food addiction association. Cross-sectional analysis of 49 408 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II, a cohort comprising women nurses who were aged 25 to 42 years at the 1989 recruitment from 14 US states.
The prevalence of food addiction as assessed by the Yale Food Addiction Scale: a systematic review
Pursey, K. M., Stanwell, P., Gearhardt, A. N., Collins, C. E., & Burrows, T. L. (2014a). The prevalence of food addiction as assessed by the Yale Food Addiction Scale: a systematic review. Nutrients, 6(10), 4552-4590. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6104552 Review Review link
The Prevalence of Food Addiction as Assessed by the Yale Food Addiction Scale: A Systematic Review
Pursey, K. M., Stanwell, P., Gearhardt, A. N., Collins, C. E., & Burrows, T. L. (2014). The Prevalence of Food Addiction as Assessed by the Yale Food Addiction Scale: A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 6(10), 4552-4590. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6104552 From the research article’s abstract: “Obesity is a global issue and it has been suggested that an addiction to certain foods could be a factor contributing to overeating and subsequent obesity. Only one tool, the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) has been developed to specifically assess food addiction. This review aimed to determine the prevalence of food addiction diagnosis and symptom scores, as assessed by the YFAS. Published studies to July 2014 were included if they reported the YFAS diagnosis or symptom score and were published in the English language. Twenty-five studies were identified including a total of 196,211 predominantly female, overweight/obese participants (60%). Using meta-analysis, the weighted mean prevalence of YFAS food addiction diagnosis was 19.9%. Food addiction (FA) diagnosis was found to be higher in adults aged >35 years, females, and overweight/obese participants. Additionally, YFAS diagnosis and symptom score was higher in clinical samples compared to non-clinical counterparts. YFAS outcomes were related to a range of other eating behavior measures and anthropometrics. Further research is required to explore YFAS outcomes across a broader spectrum of ages, other types of eating disorders and in conjunction with weight loss interventions to confirm the efficacy of the tool to assess for the presence of FA.”