title: "Eating addiction", rather than "food addiction", better captures addictive-like eating behavior.
abstract: "Food addiction" has become a focus of interest for researchers attempting to explain certain processes and/or behaviors that may contribute to the development of obesity. Although the scientific discussion on "food addiction" is in its nascent stage, it has potentially important implications for treatment and prevention strategies. As such, it is important to critically reflect on the appropriateness of the term "food addiction", which combines the concepts of "substance-based" and behavioral addiction. The currently available evidence for a substance-based food addiction is poor, partly because systematic clinical and translational studies are still at an early stage. We do however view both animal and existing human data as consistent with the existence of addictive eating behavior. Accordingly, we stress that similar to other behaviors eating can become an addiction in thus predisposed individuals under specific environmental circumstances. Here, we introduce current diagnostic and neurobiological concepts of substance-related and non-substance-related addictive disorders, and highlight the similarities and dissimilarities between addiction and overeating. We conclude that "food addiction" is a misnomer because of the ambiguous connotation of a substance-related phenomenon. We instead propose the term "eating addiction" to underscore the behavioral addiction to eating; future research should attempt to define the diagnostic criteria for an eating addiction, for which DSM-5 now offers an umbrella via the introduction on Non-Substance-Related Disorders within the category Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Essen (AöR), Wickenburgstr. 21, D-45147 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hebebrand
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Essen (AöR), Wickenburgstr. 21, D-45147 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Albayrak
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adan
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Essen (AöR), Wickenburgstr. 21, D-45147 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antel
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dieguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, 15 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, 15 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK. Electronic address: john.menzies@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menzies
authors.affiliation: Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK.
authors.forename: Julian G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.affiliation: Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van der Plasse
authors.affiliation: Department Physiology/Endocrine, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 11, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Suzanne L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dickson
mesh_terms: D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D012201:Reward
keywords: Addictive disorders; Eating addiction; Fat addiction; Food addiction; Motivation; Obesity; Reward system; Salt addiction; Sugar addiction