Cited by 502Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorEating Disorders and BehaviorsRegulation of Appetite and Obesity

Similarity Between Obesity and Drug Addiction as Assessed by Neurofunctional Imaging: A Concept Review

Wang, Gene-Jack, Volkow, Nora D., Thanos, Panayotis K., Fowler, Joanna S.·2004·Journal of Addictive Diseases

Abstract

Overeating in obese individuals shares similarities with the loss of control and compulsive drug taking behavior observed in drug-addicted subjects. The mechanism of these behaviors is not well understood. Our prior studies with positron emission tomography (PET) in drug-addicted subjects documented reductions in striatal dopamine (DA) D2 receptors. In pathologically obese subjects, we found reductions in striatal DA D2 receptors similar to that in drug-addicted subjects. Moreover, DA D2 receptor levels were found to have an inverse relationship to the body mass index of the obese subjects. We postulated that decreased levels of DA D2 receptors predisposed subjects to search for reinforcers; in the case of drug-addicted subjects for the drug and in the case of the obese subjects for food as a means to temporarily compensate for a decreased sensitivity of DA D2 regulated reward circuits. Understanding the mechanism in food intake will help to suggest strategies for the treatment of obesity.

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Crossref · 10.1300/j069v23n03_04

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69 of 69 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Given the observation that cocaine addicts and obese human subjects exhibit low D2R availability in the dorsal striatum, dopamine plasticity due to repeated consumption of palatable food is somewhat similar to that due to repeated consumption of drugs of abuse.

    “Given the observation that cocaine addicts and obese human subjects exhibit low D2R availability in the dorsal striatum ([190](#B190)), these findings suggest that dopamine plasticity due to repeated consumption of palatable food is somewhat similar to that due to repeated consumption of drugs of abuse.”

    From Food reward, hyperphagia, and obesity (2011) · cites this paper as [190]

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Authors
Wang, G.-J., Volkow, N. D., Thanos, P. K., & Fowler, J. S.
Affiliations
  • Brookhaven National Laboratory (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Venue
Journal of Addictive Diseases
Published
2004-07-29
Volume
23
Issue
3
Pages
39-53
ISSN
  • 1055-0887 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-0848
OpenAlex
W2062879497
Cited by
502
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 66 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 43
FWCI
6.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Addictive Diseases (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA/ODO9481-04)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA-06891-06, R01DA006891)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
Keywords
obesity, drug addiction, dopamine D2 receptor, striatum, overeating, reward systems, body mass index, neuroimaging of addiction
MeSH terms
Brain, Cocaine, Humans, Methamphetamine, Obesity, Receptors, Dopamine D2, Substance-Related Disorders, Positron-Emission Tomography

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