New Brain Imaging Study Provides Support for the Notion of Food Addiction

June 26, 2013 — Consuming highly processed carbohydrates can cause excess hunger and stimulate brain regions involved in reward and cravings, according to a Boston Children's Hospital research team led by David Ludwig, MD, PhD director, New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center. These findings suggest that limiting these "high-glycemic index" foods could help obese individuals avoid overeating.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on June 26, 2013, investigates how food intake is regulated by dopamine-containing pleasure centers of the brain.

"Beyond reward and craving, this part of the brain is also linked to substance abuse and dependence, which raises the question as to whether certain foods might be addictive," says Ludwig.

...

"These findings suggest that limiting high-glycemic index carbohydrates like white bread and potatoes could help obese individuals reduce cravings and control the urge to overeat," says Ludwig.

Though the concept of food addiction remains provocative, the findings suggest that more interventional and observational studies be done. Additional research will hopefully inform clinicians about the subjective experience of food addiction, and how we can potentially treat these patients and regulate their weight.

Journal Reference:

1. Belinda S Lennerz, David C Alsop, Laura M Holsen, Emily Stern, Rafael Rojas, Cara B Ebbeling, Jill M Goldstein, and David S Ludwig. Effects of dietary glycemic index on brain regions related to reward and craving in men. Am J Clin Nutr, June 26, 2013 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.113.064113

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2013/06/26/ajcn.113.06411

Yes and no.

This part of the brain also lights up when you are having sex, exercising or bonding (moreso, nursing) with your children...i.e. ALL the rewarding things.

Should we be limiting high-glycemic foods? Yep. Are they "addicting"? I suppose that's a personal opinion. But I avoid carbs because they are evil for all sorts of reasons, but I'm not "addicted" to them.

Thanks for the info!  Can you tell me (or tell me where to find) information about what constitutes "high glycemic", the term High indicates that there is a range (of course) and I am wondering which fruits are considered low - mid - and high.  Also, the article discusses processed foods and starches but did it address fruit?

Thanks!!!

Anne

There are many sources of Glycemic Index lists on the internets... such as: http://nutritiondata.self.com/topics/glycemic-index#load

Fruit - all over the map.  Lustig (one of my heroes) has said that whole fruit is generally ok because when it comes with sugar, it is bound with fiber which lowers the blood glucose response.  

Processing food, in general, adds sugar, reduces fiber, and breaks down the components of the food making it easier to digest and often exaggerates the glucose response.  Since many of us here are fighting metabolic syndrome, anything that spikes glucose would be bad - causing cravings, and sending us into a spiral of gobbling carbs not unlike a heroine addict.

In general, my reading tells me that one of the best things we can do for long-term success is to minimize glucose spikes.  This research seems to support that notion, but its far from the only one, and the idea seems to have support from a number of angles and research view points.

Watch this, if you haven't already: Sugar: The Bitter Truth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

Or read Lustig's book (a bit less "chemistry" and some practical ideas): 

Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease

He doesn't really talk about addiction per se, but has a lot of good, solid research on sugar and processed foods.

Tom

Lustig is my hero too! As is Michael Moss (Salt Sugar Fat).  While my sleeve is my greatest tool, these two guys helped saved my life.  I lost considerably weight preop by simply not eating anything processed or "white".

I need to re-read Fat Chance as the OH carb battles muddy my mind sometimes.  I am still on pureed/mushy so I am only eating protein at this point.  But, I am looking forward to fruit again.

Thanks again for the research (I am a data geek)

Anne

Yes, the Moss book is VERY interesting.

Couple of other books that are interesting (They were used in a course I took on Coursera.org from John Hopkins on "Obesity Economics")

• David Kessler's book, The End of Overeating 
• Eric Finkelstein’s book, The Fattening of America 

I've worked in the addiction world as a professional and I've always said that sugar was my "drug of choice".  Sugar...makes...me...CRAZY!   My husband even says that I behave and act differently when I'm using recreational sugar i.e. cookies, cakes, candy, donuts, etc.   I've known this about myself for years and have had long periods of abstinence from this stuff in the past.   

Since WLS surgery I have made the commitment to completely abstain.  I'm happy for people who can learn to do sugar and treats in moderation...I can't and never will.  One bite is too much and 1000 bites will never be enough.  I can eat the stuff until I puke and then still want it the next day.  If that isn't the epitome of an addict, then I don't know what is. 

Thanks for posting the article!  

We can argue about the term "addiction" and what it means, but we DO know that the processed food industry has teams of scientists working hard to come up with formulations that push all of our reward buttons.  They do a damn good job of it - and being technically addicted or not, there's still some danger in constantly being rewarded for eating...  

Hi, my name is Anne and I am a sugar-a-holic.

As a trained social worker, I have also studied addiction in depth. The best, easiest to understand for most is this:  an addiction is anything that an individual does/ingests that consistently interferes with leading a healthy life.  For me, processed sugars did that in a BIG way.  binge eating, staying up and missing sleep in order to eat, eating to the detriment of my relationships, and of course basically committing slow motion suicide.

I have not eaten any processed sugar since mid April .  Between that time and surgery I lost 27 lbs without limiting any quantities...heck, I ate up to 3 cups a grapes every night!  I am so excited to combine my recovery with the tool of the sleeve!

Anne

   Hi Anne!