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Cited by 800Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorRegulation of Appetite and ObesityEating Disorders and Behaviors

Obesity and addiction: Neurobiological overlaps

Open access
Volkow, N. D., Wang, G.‐J., Tomasi, D., Baler, R. D.·2013·Obesity Reviews
DOI 10.1111/j.1467-789x.2012.01031.xPMC PMC4827343
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Abstract

Summary: Drug addiction and obesity appear to share several properties. Both can be defined as disorders in which the saliency of a specific type of reward (food or drug) becomes exaggerated relative to, and at the expense of others rewards. Both drugs and food have powerful reinforcing effects, which are in part mediated by abrupt dopamine increases in the brain reward centres. The abrupt dopamine increases, in vulnerable individuals, can override the brain's homeostatic control mechanisms. These parallels have generated interest in understanding the shared vulnerabilities between addiction and obesity. Predictably, they also engendered a heated debate. Specifically, brain imaging studies are beginning to uncover common features between these two conditions and delineate some of the overlapping brain circuits whose dysfunctions may underlie the observed deficits. The combined results suggest that both obese and drug‐addicted individuals suffer from impairments in dopaminergic pathways that regulate neuronal systems associated not only with reward sensitivity and incentive motivation, but also with conditioning, self‐control, stress reactivity and interoceptive awareness. In parallel, studies are also delineating differences between them that centre on the key role that peripheral signals involved with homeostatic control exert on food intake. Here, we focus on the shared neurobiological substrates of obesity and addiction.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review argues that obesity and drug addiction share overlapping neurobiological substrates, especially disrupted dopamine pathways involved in reward, motivation, conditioning, self-control, stress reactivity, and interoception. It proposes that compulsive food intake and drug taking arise from imbalanced processing across these circuits, while homeostatic and peripheral feeding signals remain a key difference.

Key findings

  • Both obese and drug-addicted individuals show impairments in dopaminergic pathways, including lower striatal dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) availability linked to decreased activity in prefrontal regions such as OFC, ACC, and DLPFC, which the paper associates with compulsivity and impulsivity.
  • Obese individuals show lower rates of nicotine and marijuana abuse than non-obese individuals, and there is an inverse relationship between BMI and recent illicit drug use; the paper suggests food and drugs may compete for overlapping reward mechanisms.
  • Obese individuals exhibit less activation of reward circuits from actual food consumption than lean individuals but greater activation of somatosensory cortical regions processing palatability during anticipation; in non-obese individuals with binge eating disorder, higher dopamine release in dorsal striatum to food cues predicted binge-eating severity.
  • In rats, medial habenula mu-opioid peptide binding was approximately 40% higher after palatable-food exposure in those that gained weight; a latent class analysis of 997 fourth graders linked executive function to obesity risk.

Methods

  • Narrative review/position paper, not a primary study; it synthesizes human neuroimaging (PET, fMRI), preclinical rodent and non-human primate, clinical, genetic, and pharmacological evidence.
  • The review focuses on shared neurobiological substrates of obesity and addiction, comparing circuits for reward/saliency, motivation/drive, conditioning, self-control, interoception, and aversion/stress reactivity.
  • Main analysis is qualitative integration of cited literature; no systematic search, meta-analysis, or new data are reported.

Limitations

  • Stated in the paper: D2R-BMI studies cannot address causality; one negative D2R study may have been hampered by low statistical power (n = 5/group); some inconsistencies exist among studies; the role of direct versus indirect striatal pathways in eating remains to be explored; and dopamine modulation of insular activity is poorly investigated.
  • Evident from the text: this is a selective narrative review without systematic search or formal bias assessment, and it relies heavily on animal models and cross-sectional human imaging, so many cited associations are correlational.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/j.1467-789x.2012.01031.x

Cites

224 of 224 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 178 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingcitation

    Using PET to measure brain glucose metabolism in healthy controls, the authors reported a negative correlation between BMI and metabolic activity in DLPFC, OFC, and ACC.

    “Using PET to measure brain glucose metabolism in healthy controls, we reported a negative correlation between BMI and metabolic activity in DLPFC, OFC and ACC.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [98] Volkow ND Wang GJ Telang F Inverse association between BMI and prefrontal metabolic activity in healthy adults Obesity 2009 17 60 65 18948965 PMC2681079 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingcitation

    In that PET study, metabolic activity in prefrontal regions predicted subjects' performance in tests of executive function.

    “In this study, the metabolic activity in prefrontal regions predicted the subjects’ performance in tests of executive function (98).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [98] Volkow ND Wang GJ Telang F Inverse association between BMI and prefrontal metabolic activity in healthy adults Obesity 2009 17 60 65 18948965 PMC2681079 source

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  • Interpretationreasoning

    There is overlap in the neuronal mechanisms implicated in loss of control and overconsumption of food in obesity and compulsive drug intake in addiction.

    “there is an overlap in the neuronal mechanisms implicated in the loss of control and overconsumption of food intake seen in obesity and in the compulsive intake of drugs seen in addiction.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationreasoning

    Midbrain DA neurons are a critical knot whose fragilities underlie dysfunctional responses to many inputs, including drug and food reward.

    “they represent a critical ‘knot’ whose fragilities are bound to underlie dysfunctional responses to a broad array of inputs, including drug and food reward.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationcitation

    Non-obese individuals with other eating disorders such as binge eating disorder and anorexia nervosa are also likely to involve imbalances in reward and self-control circuits.

    “for this dimensional analysis also encompasses non-obese individuals suffering from other eating disorders (e.g. binge eating disorder [BED] and anorexia nervosa) (9,10), which are also likely to involve imbalances in reward and self-control circuits.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [9] Umberg EN Shader RI Hsu LK Greenblatt DJ From disordered eating to addiction: the ‘food drug’ in bulimia nervosa J Clin Psychopharmacol 2012 32 376 389 22544008 source

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    • cites [10] Speranza M Revah-Levy A Giquel L An investigation of Goodman’s addictive disorder criteria in eating disorders Eur Eat Disord Rev 2011 20 182 189 21834026 source

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  • May combine two claims. 60
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 12

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    In non-obese individuals with binge eating disorder, higher than normal DA release in the dorsal striatum (caudate) when exposed to food cues was documented, and this increase predicted the severity of binge eating behaviours.

    “in non-obese individuals with BED, we documented higher than normal release of DA in dorsal striatum (caudate) when exposed to food cues and this increase predicted the severity of the binge eating behaviours (95).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [95] Wang GJ Geliebter A Volkow ND Enhanced striatal dopamine release during food stimulation in binge eating disorder Obesity 2011 19 1601 1608 21350434 PMC3144277 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    In environments where food sources were scarce or unreliable, the rewarding property of palatable foods was advantageous, but in plentiful societies it has become a dangerous liability.

    “this property of palatable foods used to be advantageous in environments where food sources were scarce and/or unreliable because it ensured that food was eaten when available, enabling energy to be stored in the body (as fat) for future use. However, in societies like ours, where food is plentiful and ubiquitous, this adaptation has become a dangerous liability.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The debate over whether obesity reflects food addiction fails to consider the dimensional nature of these two disorders.

    “the debate over whether obesity reflects ‘food addiction’ fails to consider the dimensional nature of these two disorders.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Disruption of the DA reward circuit has been implicated in loss of control in both addiction and obesity, although the physiological mechanisms that disrupt DA striatal circuits diverge.

    “Disruption of the DA reward circuit has been implicated in the loss of control seen in both addiction and obesity (2), although the physiological mechanisms that disrupt the function of the DA striatal circuits, including those implicated in reward (ventral striatum) and in habit formation (dorsal striatum), present clear divergences (3).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [2] Volkow ND Wang GJ Fowler JS Tomasi D Baler R Food and drug reward: overlapping circuits in human obesity and addiction Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2011 11 1 24 22016109 source

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    • cites [3] Ziauddeen H Fletcher P Is food addiction a valid and useful concept? Obes Rev 2012 in press PMC3561707 23057499

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Most individuals who consume drugs are not addicted, and most individuals who eat excessively retain control over food intake in some instances but not others.

    “just as most individuals that consume drugs are not addicted, most individuals that eat excessively retain control over their food intake in some instances but not in others.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Neurotransmitters implicated in drug-seeking behaviours are also implicated in food intake, and peptides that regulate food intake influence the reinforcing effects of drugs.

    “neurotransmitters implicated in drug-seeking behaviours are also implicated in food intake and, conversely, that peptides that regulate food intake also influence the reinforcing effects of drugs”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Tables 1 and 2

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Eating behaviours and responses to food are modulated by multiple peripheral and central mechanisms that convey information to the brain's DA reward pathway, with a prominent role of the hypothalamus.

    “the regulation of eating behaviours and hence the responses to food, are modulated by multiple peripheral and central mechanisms that directly or indirectly convey information to the brain’s DA reward pathway with a particular prominent role of the hypothalamus”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fig. 1

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Eating behaviours have a bow-tie architecture in which the hypothalamus is the knot of metabolic control and DA pathways are the knot for reactivity to salient external and internal stimuli.

    “Eating behaviours present a great example of this architecture where the hypothalamus subserves the ‘knot’ of the metabolic bowtie (Fig. 3a) and the DA pathways subserve the ‘knot’ for reactivity to salient external stimuli (including drugs and food) and internal signals”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fig. 3a

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given

    Differences between obesity and addiction centre on the key role that peripheral signals involved with homeostatic control exert on food intake.

    “studies are also delineating differences between them that centre on the key role that peripheral signals involved with homeostatic control exert on food intake.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Certain foods, particularly those rich in sugars and fat, are potently rewarding and can trigger addictive-like behaviours in laboratory animals.

    “certain foods, particularly those rich in sugars and fat, are potently rewarding (13) and can trigger addictive-like behaviours in laboratory animals (14,15).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [13] Lenoir M Serre F Cantin L Ahmed SH Intense sweetness surpasses cocaine reward Plos ONE 2007 2 e698 17668074 PMC1931610 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [14] Avena NM Rada P Hoebel BG Evidence for sugar addiction: behavioral and neurochemical effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2008 32 20 39 17617461 PMC2235907 source

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    • cites [15] Avena NM Rada P Hoebel BG Sugar and fat bingeing have notable differences in addictive-like behavior J Nutr 2009 139 623 628 19176748 PMC2714381 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    When loss of control and compulsive intake become rigid and dictate behaviour and choices despite adverse consequences, a pathological state akin to addiction can be invoked.

    “It is when these patterns (loss of control and compulsive intake) become rigid and dictate the behaviour and choices of the individual, despite their adverse consequences, that a pathological state akin to the concept of addiction can be invoked.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    High-calorie foods can promote over-eating uncoupled from energetic needs and trigger learned associations between stimulus and reward.

    “High-calorie foods can promote over-eating (i.e. eating that is uncoupled from energetic needs) and trigger learned associations between the stimulus and the reward (conditioning).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisenone given

    The overwhelming urge to seek and consume a drug is a hallmark of addiction.

    “The overwhelming urge to seek and consume a drug is one of the hallmarks of addiction.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Addiction involves impairments in circuits involved with self-control, decision-making, interoception, and mood and stress regulation.

    “there are impairments in circuits involved with self-control and decision-making, interoception and mood and stress regulation (8).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [8] Volkow ND Wang GJ Fowler JS Tomasi D Telang F Baler R Addiction: decreased reward sensitivity and increased expectation sensitivity conspire to overwhelm the brain’s control circuit BioEssay 2010 32 748 755 PMC2948245 20730946 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Brain imaging studies are uncovering common features between addiction and obesity and overlapping brain circuits whose dysfunction may underlie observed deficits.

    “brain imaging studies are beginning to uncover common features between these two conditions and delineate some of the overlapping brain circuits whose dysfunctions may underlie the observed deficits.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Obesity and addiction share neurobiological processes that, when disrupted, can result in compulsive consumption and loss of control on a dimensional continuum, while also involving unique neurobiological processes.

    “these two diseases share neurobiological processes that, when disrupted, can result in compulsive consumption and loss of control in a dimensional continuum, while also involving unique neurobiological processes”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The human response to food is complex and influenced by palatability, availability, eating topography, visual appeal, economics, incentives, social routines, alternative reinforcement, and advertisements.

    “the response to foods in humans, is far more complex, and is influenced not just by its palatability but also by its availability (the patterns of restriction plus overeating, referred to as the eating topography (16)), its visual appeal, economics and incentives (i.e., ‘super sizing’ offers, soda combos), social routines for eating, alternative reinforcement and advertisements (17).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [16] Corsica JA Pelchat ML Food addiction: true or false? Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2010 26 165 169 20042860 source

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    • cites [17] Garber AK Lustig RH Is fast food addictive? Curr Drug Abuse Rev 2011 4 146 162 21999689 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Comparable dopaminergic responses are linked with food reward and are likely to play a role in excessive food consumption and obesity.

    “evidence has been accumulating that comparable dopaminergic responses are linked with food reward and that these mechanisms are likely to play a role in excessive food consumption and obesity.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Drugs of abuse act on reward and ancillary circuits through different mechanisms, but all lead to sharp DA increases in the NAc.

    “Drugs of abuse act on the reward and ancillary circuits through different mechanisms; however, they all lead to sharp DA increases in the NAc.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Healthy human volunteers show robust striatal activation upon receipt of a milkshake, and frequent ice cream consumption blunts striatal responses.

    “healthy human volunteers show robust striatal activation upon receipt of a milkshake, and that frequent ice cream consumption blunts the striatal responses (46).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [46] Burger KS Stice E Frequent ice cream consumption is associated with reduced striatal response to receipt of an ice cream-based milkshake Am J Clin Nutr 2012 95 810 817 22338036 PMC3302359 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Novel rewarding stimuli engage ventral striatum, but with repeated exposure, reward-associated cues trigger DA increases in dorsal striatum.

    “whereas inherently rewarding novel stimuli engage ventral regions of the striatum (NAc), with repeated exposure, the cues associated with the reward then trigger DA increases in dorsal regions of the striatum (50).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [50] Robbins TW Cador M Taylor JR Everitt BJ Limbic-striatal interactions in reward-related processes Neurosci Biobehav Rev 1989 13 155 162 2682402 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Peripheral signals that modulate food intake act partly by hypothalamic signalling to the VTA and partly by direct effects on VTA DA meso-accumbens and meso-limbic pathways.

    “peripheral signals that modulate food intake exert their actions in part by hypothalamic signalling to VTA but also by their direct effects on the VTA DA meso-accumbens and meso-limbic pathways.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In humans, BMI is inversely related to recent illicit drug use and obesity is associated with a lower risk for substance use disorders.

    “In humans, there have been reports of an inverse relationship between body mass index (BMI) and recent illicit drug use (35) and of an association between obesity and a lower risk for substance use disorders (36).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [35] Bluml V Kapusta N Vyssoki B Kogoj D Walter H Lesch OM Relationship between substance use and body mass index in young males Am J Addict 2012 21 72 77 22211349 source

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    • cites [36] Simon G Von Korff M Saunders K Association between obesity and psychiatric disorders in the US adult population Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 63 824 830 16818872 PMC1913935 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Once conditioning has occurred, DA signals act as a predictor of reward, incentivizing the animal to perform the behaviour that will result in consuming the expected reward.

    “once conditioning has occurred, DA signals act as a predictor of reward (49), incentivizing the animal to perform the behaviour that will result in consuming the expected reward (drug or food).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [49] Schultz W Dopamine signals for reward value and risk: basic and recent data Behav Brain Funct 2010 6 24 20416052 PMC2876988 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Stimuli that cause fast and large increases in DA induce conditioned responses and elicit incentive motivation to procure them.

    “stimuli that cause fast and large increases in DA induce conditioned responses and elicit incentive motivation to procure them (48).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [48] Owesson-White CA Ariansen J Stuber GD Neural encoding of cocaine-seeking behavior is coincident with phasic dopamine release in the accumbens core and shell Eur J Neurosci 2009 30 1117 1127 19735286 PMC3107700 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Changes in neuroendocrine hormones triggered by food restriction are dynamically associated with brain DA signalling, and addictive personality is related to maladaptive eating behaviours following bariatric surgery.

    “This is consistent with preclinical (40) and clinical (41) studies showing dynamic associations between the changes in neuroendocrine hormones (e.g. insulin, leptin, ghrelin) triggered by food restriction and brain DA signalling and those of recent reports of a relationship between addictive personality and maladaptive eating behaviours following bariatric surgery (42,43).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [40] Thanos PK Michaelides M Piyis YK Wang GJ Volkow ND Food restriction markedly increases dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) in a rat model of obesity as assessed with in-vivo muPET imaging ([11C] raclopride) and in-vitro ([3H] spiperone) autoradiography Synapse 2008 62 50 61 17960763 source

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    • cites [41] Dunn JP Kessler RM Feurer ID Relationship of dopamine type 2 receptor binding potential with fasting neuroendocrine hormones and insulin sensitivity in human obesity Diabetes Care 2012 35 1105 1111 22432117 PMC3329842 source

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    • cites [42] Lent MR Swencionis C Addictive personality and maladaptive eating behaviors in adults seeking bariatric surgery Eat Behav 2012 13 67 70 22177401 source

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    • cites [43] King WC Chen JY Mitchell JE Prevalence of alcohol use disorders before and after bariatric surgery JAMA 2012 307 2516 2525 22710289 PMC3682834 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Downstream adaptations are likely involved in the loss of control over food intake, as is the case for drug intake.

    “downstream adaptations are likely to be involved in the loss of control over food intake just as is the case for drug intake.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Anorexigenic peptides such as insulin, leptin, and PYY decrease the sensitivity of the brain reward system to food reward, whereas orexigenic peptides such as ghrelin increase it.

    “anorexigenic peptides (e.g. insulin, leptin, PYY) decrease the sensitivity of the brain reward system to food reward, whereas orexigenic ones (e.g. ghrelin) increase it (see review (47)).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [47] Volkow ND Wang GJ Baler RD Reward, dopamine and the control of food intake: implications for obesity Trends Cogn Sci 2011 15 37 46 21109477 PMC3124340 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Orexigenic peptides and hormones increase VTA DA cell activity and NAc DA release when exposed to food stimuli, whereas anorexigenic ones inhibit DA firing and decrease DA release.

    “Orexigenic peptides/hormones increase the activity of VTA DA cells and increase DA release in NAc (main target of VTA DA neurons) when exposed to food stimuli, whereas anorexigenic ones inhibit DA firing and decrease DA release (23).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [23] Opland DM Leinninger GM Myers MG Jr Modulation of the mesolimbic dopamine system by leptin Brain Res 2011 1350 65 70 20417193 PMC2921997 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Obese individuals show lower rates of nicotine and marijuana abuse than non-obese individuals.

    “obese individuals show lower rates of nicotine (37) and marijuana abuse (38) than non-obese individuals.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [37] Blendy JA Strasser A Walters CL Reduced nicotine reward in obesity: cross-comparison in human and mouse Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2005 180 306 315 15719224 source

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    • cites [38] Warren M Frost-Pineda K Gold M Body mass index and marijuana use J Addict Dis 2005 24 95 100 16186086 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Inhibition of striatal D2R or activation of D1R-expressing striatal neurons enhances sensitivity to the rewarding effects of drugs.

    “inhibition of striatal D2R or activation of D1R-expressing striatal neurons (which mediate signalling in the striatal direct pathway) enhance the sensitivity to the rewarding effects of drugs (71–73).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [71] Ferguson SM Eskenazi D Ishikawa M Transient neuronal inhibition reveals opposing roles of indirect and direct pathways in sensitization Nat Neurosci 2010 14 22 24 21131952 PMC3058296 source

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    • cites [72] Hikida T Kimura K Wada N Funabiki K Nakanishi S Distinct roles of synaptic transmission in direct and indirect striatal pathways to reward and aversive behavior Neuron 2010 66 896 907 20620875 source

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    • cites [73] Lobo MK Covington HE3rd Chaudhury D Cell type-specific loss of BDNF signaling mimics optogenetic control of cocaine reward Science 2010 330 385 390 20947769 PMC3011229 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In non-obese male subjects inhibiting food craving during food cue exposure, metabolic activity decreases in amygdala, OFC, hippocampus, insula, and striatum, and OFC decreases are associated with reduced food craving.

    “when non-obese male subjects were asked to inhibit their craving for food while being exposed to food cues, they exhibited decreased metabolic activity in amygdala and OFC (as well as in hippocampus), insula and striatum, and that the decreases in OFC were associated with reductions in food craving (56).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [56] Wang GJ Volkow ND Telang F Evidence of gender differences in the ability to inhibit brain activation elicited by food stimulation Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 106 1249 1254 19164587 PMC2633545 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Responses to food cues depend on nutrition status, highlighting the role of the homeostatic network in controlling the reward network, which is also influenced by stress-processing pathways.

    “The dependence of the responses to food cues on the nutrition status (60,61) highlights the role of the homeostatic network in the control of the reward network, which in turn is also influenced by neuronal pathways that process stress.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [60] Bragulat V Dzemidzic M Bruno C Food-related odor probes of brain reward circuits during hunger: a pilot FMRI study Obesity (Silver Spring) 2012 18 1566 1571 20339365 source

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    • cites [61] Stockburger J Schmalzle R Flaisch T Bublatzky F Schupp HT The impact of hunger on food cue processing: an event-related brain potential study Neuroimage 2009 47 1819 1829 19409497 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Preclinical and clinical studies provide evidence of decreases in striatal D2R that are linked with reward through the NAc and with habits and routines through the dorsal striatum in obesity.

    “Both preclinical and clinical studies have provided evidence of decreases in striatal D2R, which, through the NAc, are linked with reward and through the dorsal striatum with the establishment of habits and routines in obesity (80–82).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [80] Geiger BM Haburcak M Avena NM Moyer MC Hoebel BG Pothos EN Deficits of mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission in rat dietary obesity Neuroscience 2009 159 1193 1199 19409204 PMC2677693 source

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    • cites [81] Wang GJ Volkow ND Logan J Brain dopamine and obesity Lancet 2001 357 354 357 11210998 source

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    • cites [82] de Weijer BA van de Giessen E van Amelsvoort TA Lower striatal dopamine D2/3 receptor availability in obese compared with non-obese subjects EJNMMI Res 2012 1 37 22214469 PMC3265412 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In siblings discordant for stimulant addiction, OFC morphology was significantly smaller in the addicted sibling than in controls, whereas non-addicted siblings did not differ from controls.

    “a recent study of siblings discordant for their addiction to stimulant drugs (78) showed brain differences in the morphology of the OFC, which were significantly smaller in the addicted sibling than in controls, whereas in the non-addicted siblings, the OFC did not differ from that of controls (79).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [78] Ersche KD Jones PS Williams GB Turton AJ Robbins TW Bullmore ET Abnormal brain structure implicated in stimulant drug addiction Science 2012 335 601 604 22301321 source

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    • cites [79] Parvaz MA Maloney T Moeller SJ Sensitivity to monetary reward is most severely compromised in recently abstaining cocaine addicted individuals: a cross-sectional ERP study Psychiatry Res 2012 203 75 82 22841343 PMC3444645 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Impairments in OFC and ACC are associated with compulsive behaviours and impulsivity, and DA's impaired modulation of these regions likely contributes to compulsive and impulsive drug intake in addiction.

    “because impairments in OFC and ACC are associated with compulsive behaviours and impulsivity, DA’s impaired modulation of these regions is likely to contribute to the compulsive and impulsive drug intake seen in addiction (76).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [76] Goldstein RZ Volkow ND Drug addiction and its underlying neurobiological basis: neuroimaging evidence for the involvement of the frontal cortex Am J Psychiatry 2002 159 1642 1652 12359667 PMC1201373 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In the striatum, D2Rs mediate indirect pathway signalling to frontal cortical regions; their down-regulation enhances sensitization to drugs, whereas up-regulation interferes with drug consumption.

    “In the striatum, D2Rs mediate signalling in the striatal indirect pathway that modulates frontal cortical regions; and their down-regulation enhances sensitization to the effects of drugs in animal models (68), whereas their up-regulation interferes with drug consumption (69,70).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [68] Ferguson SM Eskenazi D Ishikawa M Transient neuronal inhibition reveals opposing roles of indirect and direct pathways in sensitization Nat Neurosci 2011 14 22 24 21131952 PMC3058296 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [69] Thanos PK Michaelides M Umegaki H Volkow ND D2R DNA transfer into the nucleus accumbens attenuates cocaine self-administration in rats Synapse 2008 62 481 486 18418874 PMC2659016 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [70] Thanos PK Volkow ND Freimuth P Overexpression of dopamine D2 receptors reduces alcohol self-administration J Neurochem 2001 78 1094 1103 11553683 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    A reverse scenario would depend on a pre-existing vulnerability for drug use in prefrontal regions, possibly exacerbated by further decreases in striatal D2R triggered by repeated drug use.

    “A reverse scenario would depend on a pre-existing vulnerability for drug use in prefrontal regions, possibly exacerbated by further decreases in striatal D2R triggered by repeated drug use.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Stress is associated with increased consumption of palatable foods and weight gain, and acute stress uncovers a strong correlation between BMI and potentiated OFC activation in response to milkshake consumption.

    “stress is not only associated with increased consumption of palatable foods and weight gain, but acute stress also uncovers a strong correlation between BMI and a potentiated activation in response to milkshake consumption in the OFC (59)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [59] Rudenga KJ Sinha R Small DM Acute stress potentiates brain response to milkshake as a function of body weight and chronic stress Int J Obes (Lond) 2012 [Epub ahead of print] PMC3381866 22430303 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    This suggests that in subjects at risk for alcoholism, normal prefrontal function was linked to enhanced striatal D2R signalling, which may have protected them from alcohol abuse.

    “This suggests that, in these subjects at risk for alcoholism, the normal prefrontal function was linked to enhanced striatal D2R signalling, which in turn may have protected them from alcohol abuse.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Dysfunction in OFC and ACC results in compulsivity, and this might be part of the mechanism by which low-striatal D2R signalling facilitates hyperphagia.

    “Given that dysfunction in OFC and ACC results in compulsivity (see review (85)), this might be part of the mechanism by which low-striatal D2R signalling facilitates hyperphagia (86,87).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [85] Fineberg NA Potenza MN Chamberlain SR Probing compulsive and impulsive behaviors, from animal models to endophenotypes: a narrative review Neuropsychopharmacology 2009 35 591 604 19940844 PMC3055606 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [86] Davis LM Michaelides M Cheskin LJ Bromocriptine administration reduces hyperphagia and adiposity and differentially affects dopamine D2 receptor and transporter binding in leptin-receptor-deficient Zucker rats and rats with diet-induced obesity Neuroendocrinology 2009 89 152 162 18984941 PMC2681080 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [87] Holsen LM Savage CR Martin LE Importance of reward and prefrontal circuitry in hunger and satiety: Prader-Willi syndrome vs. simple obesity Int J Obes (Lond) 2012 36 638 647 22024642 PMC3270121 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Negative correlation between BMI and striatal D2R in obese and overweight individuals, and correlation between BMI and decreased prefrontal blood flow in healthy individuals and decreased prefrontal metabolism in obese subjects, support this.

    “the negative correlation between BMI and striatal D2R reported in obese (81) and in overweight (96) individuals, as well as the correlation between BMI and decreased blood flow in prefrontal regions in healthy individuals (97,98) and decreased prefrontal metabolism in obese subjects (63) support this.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [81] Wang GJ Volkow ND Logan J Brain dopamine and obesity Lancet 2001 357 354 357 11210998 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [96] Haltia LT Rinne JO Merisaari H Effects of intravenous glucose on dopaminergic function in the human brain in vivo Synapse 2007 61 748 756 17568412 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [97] Willeumier KC Taylor DV Amen DG Elevated BMI is associated with decreased blood flow in the prefrontal cortex using SPECT imaging in healthy adults Obesity (Silver Spring) 2011 19 1095 1097 21311507 PMC3125099 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [98] Volkow ND Wang GJ Telang F Inverse association between BMI and prefrontal metabolic activity in healthy adults Obesity 2009 17 60 65 18948965 PMC2681079 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    PFC processes are modulated by D1R and D2R (presumably also D4R), and decreased PFC activity in addiction and obesity is likely to contribute to poor self-control, impulsivity, and high compulsivity.

    “These processes are modulated by D1R and D2R (presumably also D4R) and thus, the decreased activity in PFC, both in addiction and in obesity, is likely to contribute to poor self-control, impulsivity and high compulsivity.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    This suggests a dynamic interaction between the amount of food eaten, reflected in BMI, and the reactivity of reward regions to high-calorie food in normal-weight individuals, which was not observed in obese individuals.

    “This suggests a dynamic interaction between the amount of food eaten (reflected in part in the BMI) and the reactivity of reward regions to high-calorie food (reflected in the activation of OFC and ACC) in normal-weight individuals but which was not observed in obese individuals.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given

    These studies cannot address whether the emerging association between low D2R and high BMI points to causality.

    “while these studies cannot address the question of whether the emerging association between low D2R and high BMI points to causality”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    The prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in executive function, including self-control.

    “The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a crucial role in executive function, including self-control.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Lower-than-normal D2R availability in the striatum of obese individuals, associated with reduced PFC and ACC activity, is likely to contribute to deficient control over food intake.

    “The lower-than-normal availability of D2R in the striatum of obese individuals, which has been associated with reduced activity in PFC and ACC (63) is therefore likely to contribute to their deficient control over food intake.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [63] Volkow ND Wang GJ Telang F Low dopamine striatal D2 receptors are associated with prefrontal metabolism in obese subjects: possible contributing factors Neuroimage 2008 42 1537 1543 18598772 PMC2659013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Decreased striatal D2R availability has been linked to compulsive food intake in obese rodents and with decreased metabolic activity in OFC and ACC in obese humans.

    “decreased striatal D2R availability has been linked to compulsive food intake in obese rodents (84) and with decreased metabolic activity in OFC and ACC in obese humans (63).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [84] Johnson PM Kenny PJ Dopamine D2 receptors in addictionlike reward dysfunction and compulsive eating in obese rats Nat Neurosci 2010 13 635 641 20348917 PMC2947358 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [63] Volkow ND Wang GJ Telang F Low dopamine striatal D2 receptors are associated with prefrontal metabolism in obese subjects: possible contributing factors Neuroimage 2008 42 1537 1543 18598772 PMC2659013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Enhanced activity in brain regions that process palatability could make obese subjects favour food over other natural reinforcers, whereas decreased activation of dopaminergic targets by actual food consumption might lead to overconsumption to compensate for weak D2R-mediated signalling.

    “An enhanced activity in brain regions that process palatability could make obese subjects favour food over other natural reinforcers, whereas decreased activation of dopaminergic targets by the actual food consumption might lead to overconsumption as a means to compensate for weak D2R-mediated signalling (93).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [93] Stice E Spoor S Bohon C Small DM Relation between obesity and blunted striatal response to food is moderated by TaqIA A1 allele Science 2008 322 449 452 18927395 PMC2681095 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Decreased striatal D2R-related signalling is likely to reduce sensitivity to other natural rewards, and this deficit in obese individuals may contribute to compensatory overeating.

    “since decreased striatal D2R-related signalling is also likely to reduce the sensitivity to other natural rewards, this deficit in obese individuals may also contribute to compensatory overeating (88).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [88] Geiger BM Behr GG Frank LE Evidence for defective mesolimbic dopamine exocytosis in obesity-prone rats FASEB J 2008 22 2740 2746 18477764 PMC2728544 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Obese individuals exhibit less activation of reward circuits from actual food consumption than lean individuals, but greater activation of somatosensory cortical regions that process palatability when anticipating consumption.

    “obese individuals exhibited less activation of reward circuits from actual food consumption (consummatory food reward) than lean individuals, whereas they showed greater activation of somatosensory cortical regions that process palatability when they anticipated consumption (91).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [91] Stice E Spoor S Bohon C Veldhuizen MG Small DM Relation of reward from food intake and anticipated food intake to obesity: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study J Abnorm Psychol 2008 117 924 935 19025237 PMC2681092 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    PET FDG studies in normal-weight individuals found that exposure to food cues increased metabolic activity in OFC, which was associated with desire for the food.

    “PET studies with FDG to measure brain glucose metabolism in normal-weight individuals reported that exposure to food cues increased metabolic activity in OFC, which was associated with the desire for the food (117).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [117] Wang GJ Volkow ND Telang F Exposure to appetitive food stimuli markedly activates the human brain Neuroimage 2004 21 1790 1797 15050599 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    An MRI study in elderly women using voxel-based morphometry found a negative correlation between BMI and grey matter volumes including frontal regions, which in the OFC was associated with impaired executive function.

    “For example, an MRI study done in elderly women, using voxel-based morphometry, found a negative correlation between BMI and grey matter volumes (including frontal regions), which, in the OFC, was associated with impaired executive function (126).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [126] Walther K Birdsill AC Glisky EL Ryan L Structural brain differences and cognitive functioning related to body mass index in older females Hum Brain Mapp 2010 31 1052 1064 19998366 PMC6870943 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When responses to i.v. methylphenidate are compared between cocaine-addicted and non-addicted individuals, cocaine-addicted individuals show increased metabolism in ventral ACC and medial OFC, an effect associated with craving, while non-addicted individuals show decreased metabolism in these regions.

    “Moreover, when the responses to i.v. methylphenidate are compared between cocaine-addicted and non-addicted individuals, the former responded with increased metabolism in ventral ACC and medial OFC (an effect associated with craving), while the latter showed decreased metabolism in these regions (114).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [114] Volkow ND Wang GJ Ma Y Activation of orbital and medial prefrontal cortex by methylphenidate in cocaine-addicted subjects but not in controls: relevance to addiction J Neurosci 2005 25 3932 3939 15829645 PMC6724925 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Enhanced OFC activation by food stimulation likely reflects downstream dopaminergic effects and participates in dopamine's involvement in the drive for food consumption.

    “The enhanced OFC activation by the food stimulation is likely to reflect downstream dopaminergic effects and participate in DA’s involvement in the drive for food consumption.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Another study found no differences in grey matter volumes between obese and lean subjects.

    “Another study found no differences in grey matter volumes between obese and lean subjects; however, it did record a positive correlation between white matter volume in basal brain structures and waist to hip ratios, a trend that was partially reversed by dieting (129).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [129] Haltia LT Viljanen A Parkkola R Brain white matter expansion in human obesity and the recovering effect of dieting J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007 92 3278 3284 17536002 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Addicted subjects are aroused and motivated by obtaining the drug but become withdrawn and apathetic when exposed to non-drug activities.

    “Because drug taking becomes the main motivational drive in drug addiction (110), addicted subjects are aroused and motivated by the process of obtaining the drug but tend to become withdrawn and apathetic when exposed to non–drug-related activities.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [110] Volkow ND Fowler JS Wang GJ The addicted human brain: insights from imaging studies J Clin Invest 2003 111 1444 1451 12750391 PMC155054 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Activation of prefrontal regions with drug exposure may be specific to addiction and associated with enhanced desire for the drug.

    “This suggests that the activation of these prefrontal regions with drug exposure may be specific to addiction and associated with the enhanced desire for the drug.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When tasting sucrose, subjects recovered from anorexia nervosa show less insular activation and no association with feelings of pleasantness as observed in controls.

    “In contrast, when tasting sucrose, subjects who have recovered from anorexia nervosa show less insular activation and no association with feelings of pleasantness as observed in controls (145).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [145] Wagner A Aizenstein H Mazurkewicz L Altered insula response to taste stimuli in individuals recovered from restricting-type anorexia nervosa Neuropsychopharmacology 2008 33 513 523 17487228 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The insula appears to have an interoceptive function, integrating autonomic and visceral information with emotion and motivation, thus providing conscious awareness of urges.

    “The insula, particularly its more anterior regions, is reciprocally connected to several limbic regions (e.g. ventromedial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and ventral striatum) and appears to have an interoceptive function, integrating the autonomic and visceral information with emotion and motivation, thus providing conscious awareness of these urges (135).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [135] Naqvi NH Bechara A The hidden island of addiction: the insula Trends Neurosci 2009 32 56 67 18986715 PMC3698860 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When normal-weight women tasted a sweetener with calories (sucrose), both the insula and dopaminergic midbrain areas became activated, whereas tasting a calorie-free sweetener (sucralose) only activated the insula.

    “For example, when normal-weight women tasted a sweetener with calories (sucrose), both the insula and dopaminergic midbrain areas became activated, whereas tasting a calorie-free sweetener (sucralose) only activated the insula (144).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [144] Frank GK Oberndorfer TA Simmons AN Sucrose activates human taste pathways differently from artificial sweetener Neuroimage 2008 39 1559 1569 18096409 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The observed changes suggest excessive input from the amygdala and insula, which could trigger exaggerated stimulus-response learning and incentive motivation to food cues in the dorsal caudate nucleus, and this could become overwhelming given weak inhibitory control by fronto-cortical regions.

    “The observed changes suggest excessive input from the amygdala and insula; these, in turn could trigger exaggerated stimulus-response learning and incentive motivation to food cues in the dorsal caudate nucleus, which could become overwhelming in light of weak inhibitory control by fronto-cortical regions.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Similar antireward responses, including increased stress reactivity, negative mood, and discomfort, may also contribute to excessive food consumption in obesity and to the high propensity to relapse when dieting after exposure to a stressful or frustrating event.

    “Similar antireward responses (including increased stress reactivity, negative mood and discomfort) may also contribute to excessive food consumption in obesity and to the high propensity to relapse when dieting after exposure to a stressful or frustrating event.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Findings from animal models of cocaine addiction and palatable-food-induced obesity can be generalized to human addiction and obesity.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A highly palatable food diet can induce obesity in rats, with weight increases correlating with increases in m-opioid peptide binding in the basolateral and basomedial amygdala.

    “A highly palatable food diet can induce obesity in rats, with the weight increases correlating with increases in m-opioid peptide binding in the basolateral and basomedial amygdala.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [157] Smith SL Harrold JA Williams G Diet-induced obesity increases mu opioid receptor binding in specific regions of the rat brain Brain Res 2002 953 215 222 12384255 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Neurons in the rostromedial tegmental nucleus, which receive a major input from the lateral habenula, project to VTA DA neurons and are activated after food deprivation.

    “Moreover, neurons in the rostromedial tegmental nucleus, which receive a major input from the lateral habenula, project to VTA DA neurons and are activated after food deprivation (158).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [158] Jhou TC Fields HL Baxter MG Saper CB Holland PC The rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg), a GABAergic afferent to midbrain dopamine neurons, encodes aversive stimuli and inhibits motor responses Neuron 2009 61 786 800 19285474 PMC2841475 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The many mechanistic and behavioural parallels identified between addiction and obesity suggest the value of multipronged parallel therapeutic approaches for both disorders.

    “The many mechanistic and behavioural parallels identified between addiction and obesity suggest the value of multipronged parallel therapeutic approaches for both of these disorders.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Obesity, similar to drug addiction, appears to result from imbalanced processing in a range of regions implicated in reward/saliency, motivation/drive, emotion/stress reactivity, memory/conditioning, executive function/self-control, and interoception, in addition to possible imbalances in homeostatic regulation of food intake.

    “The picture that is emerging is that obesity, similar to drug addiction (226), appears to result from imbalanced processing in a range of regions implicated in reward/saliency, motivation/drive, emotion/stress reactivity, memory/conditioning, executive function/self-control and interoception, in addition to possible imbalances in the homeostatic regulation of food intake.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [226] Carnell S Gibson C Benson L Ochner CN Geliebter A Neuroimaging and obesity: current knowledge and future directions Obes Rev 2011 13 43 56 21902800 PMC3241905 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • Rests on an assumption: Brain activation or metabolism differences observed in obese versus lean individuals reflect dysfunction in the underlying circuits rather than consequences of obesity.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Whether tested during early or protracted periods of abstinence/dieting, addicted/obese subjects show lower D2R in striatum including NAc, which are associated with decreases in baseline activity in frontal brain regions implicated in salience attribution (OFC) and inhibitory control (ACC and DLPFC), whose disruption results in compulsivity and impulsivity.

    “Also, whether tested during early or protracted periods of abstinence/ dieting, addicted/obese subjects show lower D2R in striatum (including NAc), which are associated with decreases in baseline activity in frontal brain regions implicated in salience attribution (OFC) and inhibitory control (ACC and DLPFC), whose disruption results in compulsivity and impulsivity.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
68 of 68

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from rodent and non-human primate models of drug and food reward can be generalized to human obesity and addiction.

    “Experiments in rodents have shown that, upon first exposure to a food reward, the firing of DA neurons in the VTA increases with a resulting increase in DA release in NAc (22).”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Brain imaging signals such as striatal activation and D2R availability index the reward, motivation, and self-control processes discussed.

    “Brain imaging studies are beginning to provide important clues about such overlapping functional circuitry.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from animal models of cocaine addiction and palatable-food-induced obesity can be generalized to human addiction and obesity.

    “The habenula appears to play a similar role with regards to food reward.”
    “These findings are consistent with a role for the habenula (both medial and lateral) in mediating responses to aversive stimuli or to states of deprivation such as during dieting or drug withdrawal.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Brain activation or metabolism differences observed in obese versus lean individuals reflect dysfunction in the underlying circuits rather than consequences of obesity.

    “In spite of some inconsistencies among studies, brain imaging data also support the notion that structural and functional changes in brain regions implicated in executive function (including inhibitory control) may be associated with high BMI in otherwise healthy individuals.”
4 of 4

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Internet addiction can interfere with action plans, favoring immediate rewards over long-term benefits.

    “It can also interfere with action plans, favoring immediate rewards over long-term benefits [32].”

    From Social Media Algorithms and Teen Addiction: Neurophysiological Impact and Ethical Considerations (2025) · cites this paper as [32]

    In “The impact of dysfunction in self-control” (page unavailable), the paper reports a preference for immediate over delayed rewards among people who abuse drugs and some people with obesity. “In closing” (page unavailable) also describes impaired inhibition of goal-directed actions involving drugs or food. The copy does not establish either effect for internet addiction, so the citing sentence extends the paper’s findings to a different condition. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Reward mechanisms in AUD and food overconsumption are driven by a disparity between expected effects and reduced rewards, associated with lower dopamine receptor levels in the striatum.

    “Reward mechanisms, important in both AUD and food overconsumption behavior, are driven by a disparity between expected effects and reduced rewards. This is believed to be associated with lower dopamine receptor levels in the striatum”

    From A Narrative Review of Current and Emerging Trends in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (2024) · cites this paper as [94]

    In “The impact of dysfunction in self-control” (page unavailable), the paper reports lower striatal D2R availability in addicted and obese individuals. It also describes greater anticipatory responses but weaker responses to actual food consumption in obese individuals, and compares the latter with blunted drug responses in addiction. It does not establish that a disparity between expected and received rewards drives both AUD and food overconsumption or that this disparity is caused by lower D2R levels. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Neurobiological overlaps between obesity and addiction have been described within the mesolimbic pathway between the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the ventral striatum, with further projection to limbic and cortical regions.

    “Neurobiological overlaps between obesity and addiction have been described within the mesolimbic pathway between the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the ventral striatum, with further projection to limbic (amygdala and hippocampus) and cortical regions (prefrontal cortex [PFC] and cingulate gyrus) [64].”

    From Food Addiction and Psychosocial Adversity: Biological Embedding, Contextual Factors, and Public Health Implications (2020) · cites this paper as [64]

  • Neuroimaging studies have identified some of the brain mechanisms associated with obesity and food addiction, demonstrating alterations in the core reward network (e.g. nucleus accumbens) and the extended reward network (i.e. emotion regulation, executive control, salience and somatosensory networks).

    “Neuroimaging studies have identified some of the brain mechanisms associated with obesity and food addiction 39, 40, demonstrating alterations in the core reward network (e.g. nucleus accumbens) and the extended reward network (i.e. emotion regulation, executive control, salience and somatosensory networks) 41, 42, 43.”

    From History of early life adversity is associated with increased food addiction and sex-specific alterations in reward network connectivity in obesity (2019) · cites this paper as [40]

  • A less responsive dopamine system leads to a greater propensity towards obesity, similar to other addictive disorders.

    “Similar to other addictive disorders in which perturbations in brain regions within the core and extended reward networks have been reported, a less responsive dopamine system leads to a greater propensity towards obesity 40, 85, 86, 87, 88.”

    From History of early life adversity is associated with increased food addiction and sex-specific alterations in reward network connectivity in obesity (2019) · cites this paper as [40]

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Sibling brain-morphology claim cites an ERP reward study

    Minor

    The account of OFC morphology in addicted and non-addicted siblings ends with citation 79, but reference 79 is titled as a cross-sectional ERP study of monetary-reward sensitivity, not a sibling brain-structure study.

  • Preclinical claim cites a study of obese women

    Minor

    The sentence cites reference 89 as preclinical evidence about dopamine activity in the VTA and high-fat food consumption. Reference 89 is titled as a brain-imaging study of obese women viewing food pictures, not a preclinical study.

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. 10.1038/nn.2703 · DOI · Paper page
  2. 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6326-11.2012 · DOI · Paper page

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Volkow, N. D., Wang, G. ‐., Tomasi, D., & Baler, R. D.
Affiliations
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • Brookhaven National Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
Volkow, N. D.
ORCID
Venue
Obesity Reviews
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-09-27
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
2-18
ISSN
  • 1467-7881 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-789X
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-789x.2012.01031.x
PMC
PMC4827343
OpenAlex
W1780379214
Semantic Scholar
d0d3429f0da3f6b9065a66bb07312bf81e831063
Cited by
800
References
224
Citations by year
2026: 44 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 65 · 2021: 60 · 2020: 111 · 2019: 57 · 2018: 69 · 2017: 57 · 2016: 60 · 2015: 70 · 2014: 67 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 1
FWCI
5.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Obesity Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (ZIAAA000550)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Keywords
obesity, drug addiction, reward salience, dopamine, brain reward circuits, homeostatic regulation, food intake regulation, incentive motivation, self-control, stress reactivity, interoceptive awareness, neuroimaging
MeSH terms
Brain, Dopamine, Eating, Humans, Models, Biological, Neural Pathways, Obesity, Reward, Comorbidity, Behavior, Addictive, Substance-Related Disorders

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.

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