Cited by 462Eating Disorders and BehaviorsRegulation of Appetite and ObesityNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Obesity and the brain: how convincing is the addiction model?

Ziauddeen, Hisham, Farooqi, I. Sadaf, Fletcher, Paul C.·2012·Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Abstract

An increasingly influential perspective conceptualizes both obesity and overeating as a food addiction accompanied by corresponding brain changes. Because there are far-reaching implications for clinical practice and social policy if it becomes widely accepted, a critical evaluation of this model is important. We examine the current evidence for the link between addiction and obesity, identifying several fundamental shortcomings in the model, as well as weaknesses and inconsistencies in the empirical support for it from human neuroscientific research.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrn3212

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  • There are several identifiable circuits in the brain whose dysfunctions uncover real and clinically meaningful parallels between obesity and drug addiction.

    “Whether or not certain types of obesity should be defined as behavioural addictions (160), there are several identifiable circuits in the brain (2), whose dysfunctions uncover real and clinically meaningful parallels between the two disorders.”

    From Obesity and addiction: Neurobiological overlaps (2013) · cites this paper as [160]

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Authors
Ziauddeen, H., Farooqi, I. S., & Fletcher, P. C.
Affiliations
University of Cambridge (GB)
Corresponding author
Fletcher, Paul C.
Venue
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Published
2012-03-14
Volume
13
Issue
4
Pages
279-286
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
OpenAlex
W2033383318
Cited by
462
References
101
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 68 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 20
FWCI
7.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Wellcome Trust (095692, 093270)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
obesity, food addiction, addiction models, overeating, brain changes, neurobiology of eating, clinical practice, social policy, evidence evaluation
MeSH terms
Brain, Humans, Hyperphagia, Models, Theoretical, Obesity, Behavior, Addictive

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