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STUDIES
The rising number of obese individuals on a global scale has led the scientific community to determine the causes for this disease. Besides over-consumption of high-caloric foods and/or endocrine dysfunction, food addiction has been found to be a major culprit for weight gain. Food addiction results from craving certain food or food-substances so as to obtain a state of heightened pleasure, energy or excitement. Major intervention is needed in curbing these cravings and suppressing the appetite to promote weight loss. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been applied to study why obese individuals overeat. Introduction of this technology will serve as a means in paving the way for new weight loss drugs.
Food addiction is an emerging area of both clinical and research interest. The current review discussed several definitional and conceptual categorisations that have been put forth to quantify food addiction. However, the YFAS 2·0 concept predominates the literature. Similarly, evidence shows some similarities of food addiction with established eating disorders, particularly BED. Thus, the current review supports two main areas of contention that warrant much more research; considering food addiction as a substance-related addiction or a behavioural-related addiction and if food addiction is distinct from established eating disorders. Further research is needed to continue to delineate and clarify controversies about similarities and differences in food addiction with other concepts and established disorders.
Why do the obese eat more?
Von Deneen, K. M., & Liu, Y. (2011). Obesity as an addiction: Why do the obese eat more? Maturitas, 68(4), 342-345. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.01.018
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