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Sugar and Fat Bingeing Have Notable Differences in Addictive-like Behavior
Open accessAbstract
Ingestion of different nutrients, such as fats and sugars, normally produces different effects on physiology, the brain, and behavior. However, they do share certain neural pathways for reinforcement of behavior, including the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system. When these nutrients are consumed in the form of binges, this can release excessive DA, which causes compensatory changes that are comparable to the effects of drugs of abuse. In this article, we review data obtained with animal models of fat and sugar bingeing. The concept of "food addiction" is described and reviewed from both clinical and laboratory animal perspectives. Behavioral manifestations of addictive-like behavior and concomitant alterations in DA and opioid systems are compared for sugar and fat bingeing. Finally, in relation to eating disorders and obesity, we discuss how fat may be the macronutrient that results in excess body weight, and sweet taste in the absence of fat may be largely responsible for producing addictive-like behaviors that include a withdrawal syndrome.
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“certain foods, particularly those rich in sugars and fat, are potently rewarding (13) and can trigger addictive-like behaviours in laboratory animals (14,15).”
From Obesity and addiction: Neurobiological overlaps (2013) · cites this paper as [15]
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“Such highly palatable and processed foods and their related associations or ‘cues’ stimulate the brain reward and motivation pathways just as reinforcing drugs of abuse and via learning/conditioning mechanisms increase the likelihood of HP food seeking and consumption”
From Role of addiction and stress neurobiology on food intake and obesity (2018) · cites this paper as Avena, Rada, & Hoebel, 2009
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Metadata
- Authors
- Avena, N. M., Rada, P., & Hoebel, B. G.
- Affiliations
- Princeton University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hoebel, Bartley G.
- ORCID
- Avena, Nicole M.
- Venue
- The Journal of Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-03
- Volume
- 139
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 623-628
- ISSN
- 0022-3166 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2714381
- OpenAlex
- W2138737041
- Cited by
- 388
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 62 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 13.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Public Health Service (AA12882)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA12882, R01AA012882)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK-79793, F32DK079793)
- 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
- food addiction, mesolimbic dopamine system, opioid system, eating disorders, obesity, sweet taste, withdrawal syndrome, macronutrients
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Bulimia, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Fats, Humans, Rats
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