Abstract
There is an emerging view that the increased availability of energy-dense foods in our society is contributing to excessive food consumption which could lead to food addiction-like behavior. Particularly, compulsive eating patterns are predominant in people suffering from eating disorders (binge-eating disorder, bulimia and anorexia nervosa) and obesity. Phenotypically, the behavioral pattern exhibits a close resemblance to individuals suffering from other forms of addiction (drug, sex, gambling). Growing body of evidence in neuroscience research is showing that excessive consumption of energy-dense foods alters the brain circuits implicated in reward, decision-making, control, habit formation, and emotions that are central to drug addiction. Here, we review the current understanding of the circuits of food addiction-like behaviors and highlight the future possibility of exploring those circuits to combat obesity and eating disorders.
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References
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Senol, E., Mohammad, H. Current perspectives on brain circuits involved in food addiction-like behaviors. J Neural Transm 131, 475–485 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-023-02732-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-023-02732-4