Comparative Analysis of Food Addiction and Obesity: A Critical Review

Abstract

Compulsive ingestion of tasty foods is a characteristic of food addiction (FA), a debated but increasingly recognized disorder that shares neurological features with drug-use disorders. This review examines the overlapping processes between FA and obesity, with a focus on the opioid and dopamine reward systems. Sweet, fatty, and salty processed foods dominate our brain pathways, making them increasingly less able to feel full and urge us to eat more than we require. While the diagnosis remains controversial, the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) is the most widely used assessment instrument. Potential management options include nutrition-based interventions, such as whole-food diets, and behavioral strategies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and conscious eating. However, stigmatization, labeling, and food industry promotion of addictive products pose ethical concerns. Against the backdrop of ongoing controversy, this article summarizes the highest-quality research available on the neurological basis of FA as well as its measurement challenges and possible therapeutic options. The public health implications of FA and obesity can be lessened by future research to explore personalized treatments, refine diagnostic systems, and inform policy.

Keywords: food addiction; highly palatable foods; nutritional interventions; obesity.

FIGURE 1

Highly palatable foods and their effects.

FIGURE 2

Examples of whole foods items.