title: Sugar addiction: the state of the science.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As obesity rates continue to climb, the notion that overconsumption reflects an underlying 'food addiction' (FA) has become increasingly influential. An increasingly popular theory is that sugar acts as an addictive agent, eliciting neurobiological changes similar to those seen in drug addiction. In this paper, we review the evidence in support of sugar addiction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the literature on food and sugar addiction and considered the evidence suggesting the addictiveness of highly processed foods, particularly those with high sugar content. We then examined the addictive potential of sugar by contrasting evidence from the animal and human neuroscience literature on drug and sugar addiction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We find little evidence to support sugar addiction in humans, and findings from the animal literature suggest that addiction-like behaviours, such as bingeing, occur only in the context of intermittent access to sugar. These behaviours likely arise from intermittent access to sweet tasting or highly palatable foods, not the neurochemical effects of sugar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the lack of evidence supporting it, we argue against a premature incorporation of sugar addiction into the scientific literature and public policy recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK.|Department of Psychiatry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Herchel Smith Building, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK.
authors.forename: Margaret L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Westwater
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Herchel Smith Building, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK.|Wellcome Trust MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.|Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB21 5EF, UK.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Herchel Smith Building, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK. hz238@cam.ac.uk.|Wellcome Trust MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK. hz238@cam.ac.uk.|Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB21 5EF, UK. hz238@cam.ac.uk.|, Box 189, Herchel Smith Building, West Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB21 5DS, UK. hz238@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Hisham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ziauddeen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005502:Food; D038321:Glycemic Index; D000067940:Glycemic Load; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2
keywords: Animal neuroscience; Binge eating; Drug addiction; Obesity; Sugar addiction