title: [Food addiction: Definition, measurement and limits of the concept, associated factors, therapeutic and clinical implications].
abstract: Addictions, which are characterized by the inability to control a behavior despite existence of physical or psychological consequences, have biological, psychological and social determinants. Although the possibility of developing an addiction to some psychoactive substances (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, cannabis) and to gambling (i.e., gambling disorder) is now well demonstrated, the possibility to develop a non-drug addiction (i.e., behavioral addiction) to certain behaviors which provide pleasure (e.g. eating, having sex, buying things) is still in debate. The concept of food addiction, which refers to people who exhibit substance dependence criteria in relation to some high-fat and high-sugar foods, was recently proposed by applying substance dependence DSM criteria to eating behavior. To assess food addiction, the Yale Food Addiction Scale is now the only self-administered questionnaire (diagnosis and estimate of the number of symptoms of food addiction). Prevalence for food addiction is higher in overweight and obese patients, and in patients with certain psychopathological characteristics (i.e., depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, high impulsivity), in patients who are single and in patients with neurobiological alterations in the reward system. However, it is still unclear whether food addiction is necessary associated with subsequent increase in body weight and/or obesity. An increasing number of studies demonstrated that drug addiction and food addiction shares some similar clinical, neurobiological and psychopathological and sociocultural risk factors. To test the pertinence to include food addiction as an addiction, it would be interesting to conduct future studies in patients who may experience harms related to their food addiction, including not only patients with obesity, but also patients with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, stroke, or coronary heart disease. Food addiction is a clinical and multidimensional concept which requires integrated care with psychotherapy, pharmacological and social lines of approach. This concept has also practical implications in terms of prevention and public health (e.g., prevention, brief interventions, possible law enforcement regarding some kinds of food which could present some addictive properties).
authors.affiliation: Université François-Rabelais de Tours, département de psychologie, EA 2114, « psychologie des âges de la vie », 37041 Tours, France.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cathelain
authors.affiliation: Université François-Rabelais de Tours, département de psychologie, EA 2114, « psychologie des âges de la vie », 37041 Tours, France; CHRU de Tours, équipe de liaison et de soins en addictologie, 37044 Tours cedex 09, France; CHRU de Tours, clinique psychiatrique universitaire, 37044 Tours cedex 09, France. Electronic address: paul.brunault@univ-tours.fr.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brunault
authors.affiliation: CHRU de Tours, équipe de liaison et de soins en addictologie, 37044 Tours cedex 09, France; CHRU de Tours, clinique psychiatrique universitaire, 37044 Tours cedex 09, France; Université François-Rabelais de Tours, UMR Inserm U930 ERL, 37200 Tours, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ballon
authors.affiliation: Université François-Rabelais de Tours, département de psychologie, EA 2114, « psychologie des âges de la vie », 37041 Tours, France.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Réveillère
authors.affiliation: Université François-Rabelais de Tours, département de psychologie, EA 2114, « psychologie des âges de la vie », 37041 Tours, France; CHRU de Tours, clinique psychiatrique universitaire, 37044 Tours cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Courtois
mesh_terms: D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans