title: Preference for sweet foods and higher body mass index in patients being treated in long-term methadone maintenance.
abstract: Opiate use has been associated with preference for sweets in both humans and animals. In 2002, the food preferences and eating habits of non-institutionalized patients in methadone treatment and controls were measured and compared. Questionnaires were administered to 14 patients and 14 controls with similar demographic characteristics (there were 19 women and 9 men ranging in age from 19 to 59 years). The patients reported higher consumption of sweets, higher eagerness to consume sweet foods, and a wish to consume quantities larger than that desired by controls. Patients had a significantly higher body mass than controls. The study's limitations are noted. These findings suggest a link between methadone and a desire for calorically dense foods. A study of eating behavior is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Wagner College, Staten Island, NY 10301, USA. LNolan@wagner.edu
authors.forename: Laurence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Scagnelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D008691:Methadone