The Study of Food Addiction Using Animal Models of Binge Eating

Overview

Journal Appetite

Specialties Nutritional Sciences
Social Sciences

Date 2010 Sep 21

PMID 20849896

Citations 48

Authors

Nicole M Avena

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This review summarizes evidence of "food addiction" using animal models of binge eating. In our model of sucrose bingeing, behavioral components of addiction are demonstrated and related to neurochemical changes that also occur with addictive drugs. Evidence supports the hypothesis that rats can become dependent and "addicted" to sucrose. Results obtained when animals binge on other palatable foods, including a fat-rich food, are described and suggest that increased body weight can occur. However, the characterization of an addiction-like behavioral profile in animals with binge access to fat requires further exploration in order to dissociate the effect of increased body weight from the diet or schedule of feeding.

Citing Articles

Contribution of hypothalamic orexin (hypocretin) circuits to pathologies of motivation.

Mohammadkhani A, Mitchell C, James M, Borgland S, Dayas C Br J Pharmacol. 2024; 181(22):4430-4449.

PMID: 39317446 PMC: 11458361. DOI: 10.1111/bph.17325.

Increased Depressive-like, Anxiety-like, and Perseverative-like Behavior in Binge Eating Model in Juvenile Rats.

Genis-Mendoza A, Juarez-Rojop I, Escobar-Chan Y, Tovilla-Zarate C, Lopez-Narvaez M, Nicolini H Nutrients. 2024; 16(9).

PMID: 38732521 PMC: 11085508. DOI: 10.3390/nu16091275.

Editorial: Neurobiology of food addiction.

Lampert C, Novelle M Front Behav Neurosci. 2023; 17:1285557.

PMID: 38025390 PMC: 10662013. DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1285557.

Linking drug and food addiction: an overview of the shared neural circuits and behavioral phenotype.

Passeri A, Municchi D, Cavalieri G, Babicola L, Ventura R, Di Segni M Front Behav Neurosci. 2023; 17:1240748.

PMID: 37767338 PMC: 10520727. DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1240748.

Maternal Over- and Malnutrition and Increased Risk for Addictive and Eating Disorders in the Offspring.

Guillaumin M, Peleg-Raibstein D Nutrients. 2023; 15(5).

PMID: 36904093 PMC: 10004806. DOI: 10.3390/nu15051095.

References

Vigano D, Rubino T, Di Chiara G, Ascari I, Massi P, Parolaro D . Mu opioid receptor signaling in morphine sensitization. Neuroscience. 2003; 117(4):921-9. DOI: 10.1016/s0306-4522(02)00825-4. View

Avena N, Carrillo C, Needham L, Leibowitz S, Hoebel B . Sugar-dependent rats show enhanced intake of unsweetened ethanol. Alcohol. 2005; 34(2-3):203-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2004.09.006. View

Ifland J, Preuss H, Marcus M, Rourke K, Taylor W, Burau K . Refined food addiction: a classic substance use disorder. Med Hypotheses. 2009; 72(5):518-26. DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2008.11.035. View

Stunkard A . Eating patterns and obesity. Psychiatr Q. 1959; 33:284-95. DOI: 10.1007/BF01575455. View

Gold M, Graham N, Cocores J, Nixon S . Food addiction?. J Addict Med. 2011; 3(1):42-5. DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0b013e318199cd20. View

Bello N, Sweigart K, Lakoski J, Norgren R, Hajnal A . Restricted feeding with scheduled sucrose access results in an upregulation of the rat dopamine transporter. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2003; 284(5):R1260-8. DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00716.2002. View

Heyne A, Kiesselbach C, Sahun I, McDonald J, Gaiffi M, Dierssen M . An animal model of compulsive food-taking behaviour. Addict Biol. 2009; 14(4):373-83. DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2009.00175.x. View

Grimm J, Fyall A, Osincup D . Incubation of sucrose craving: effects of reduced training and sucrose pre-loading. Physiol Behav. 2005; 84(1):73-9. PMC: 2880539. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.10.011. View

Hoebel B, Avena N, Rada P . Accumbens dopamine-acetylcholine balance in approach and avoidance. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2007; 7(6):617-27. PMC: 2727589. DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2007.10.014. View

10.

Galic M, Persinger M . Voluminous sucrose consumption in female rats: increased "nippiness" during periods of sucrose removal and possible oestrus periodicity. Psychol Rep. 2002; 90(1):58-60. DOI: 10.2466/pr0.2002.90.1.58. View

11.

Bailey A, Gianotti R, Ho A, Kreek M . Persistent upregulation of mu-opioid, but not adenosine, receptors in brains of long-term withdrawn escalating dose "binge" cocaine-treated rats. Synapse. 2005; 57(3):160-6. DOI: 10.1002/syn.20168. View

12.

Rada P, Avena N, Hoebel B . Daily bingeing on sugar repeatedly releases dopamine in the accumbens shell. Neuroscience. 2005; 134(3):737-44. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.04.043. View

13.

Gosnell B . Sucrose intake enhances behavioral sensitization produced by cocaine. Brain Res. 2005; 1031(2):194-201. DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2004.10.037. View

14.

Avena N, Rada P, Hoebel B . Underweight rats have enhanced dopamine release and blunted acetylcholine response in the nucleus accumbens while bingeing on sucrose. Neuroscience. 2008; 156(4):865-71. PMC: 4357519. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.08.017. View

15.

Avena N, Rada P, Hoebel B . Sugar and fat bingeing have notable differences in addictive-like behavior. J Nutr. 2009; 139(3):623-8. PMC: 2714381. DOI: 10.3945/jn.108.097584. View

16.

Berner L, Avena N, Hoebel B . Bingeing, self-restriction, and increased body weight in rats with limited access to a sweet-fat diet. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009; 16(9):1998-2002. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2008.328. View

17.

Avena N . Examining the addictive-like properties of binge eating using an animal model of sugar dependence. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2007; 15(5):481-91. DOI: 10.1037/1064-1297.15.5.481. View

18.

Cassin S, von Ranson K . Is binge eating experienced as an addiction?. Appetite. 2007; 49(3):687-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2007.06.012. View

19.

Wideman C, Nadzam G, Murphy H . Implications of an animal model of sugar addiction, withdrawal and relapse for human health. Nutr Neurosci. 2006; 8(5-6):269-76. DOI: 10.1080/10284150500485221. View

20.

Avena N, Long K, Hoebel B . Sugar-dependent rats show enhanced responding for sugar after abstinence: evidence of a sugar deprivation effect. Physiol Behav. 2005; 84(3):359-62. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.12.016. View