Introduction The concept that some foods may be addictive has become popular in the recent years. Both animal and human models maintain far-reaching overlap between the neuronal signaling associated with consumption of delicious foods and substance addiction. On the other hand, some people are unable to stop eating particular foods in spite of their efforts to stop consuming these foods (Burke et al., 2016). They continue to eat these foods not quench their hunger, but to feel better emotionally. Even though food addiction may result in weight gain and overconsumption of calories, it is not the same as obesity (Burke et al., 2016; Ziaudden and Fletcher, 2012). The idea of food addiction is controversial. However, it has substantial effects …show more content…
Though, the majority of people consume unhealthy foods due to emotional reasons, but not as a result of the paucity of information. Food addiction appears plausible since the brain pathways that changed to react to natural rewards are triggered by addictive substances (Avena et al., 2008; Davis, 2013). Palatable foods such as sugar have the same characteristics as substances that produce dopamine and opioids. Hence, sugary foods may have addictive potential. The belief that some of the drugs may lead to addiction raises the probability that even some types of food result in food addiction. The study indicates that some people are forced to consume sweet foods in the same way alcoholic may feel forced to drink (Avena et al., 2008). Avena et al., research focused on sugar dependence evidence in a model of animal (Avena et al., 2008). The researchers analyzed four addiction components (bingeing, cross-sensitization, craving, and withdrawal). Further, they related these behaviors to neurochemical changes that take in the brain, and also occur with addictive substances such as alcohol. Neutral systems that progressed to stimulate and reinforce foraging and …show more content…
Avena et al., found that irregular availability of sugar to rats caused binge-like manner drinking. This stimulated the release of DA in the nucleus accumbens, the same as the typical influence of drug abuse. The release of DA in the nucleus accumbens results in alterations in the availability of extracellular dopamine receptor. Irregular availability of sugar to rats also acted like opioids in the brain (Avena et al., 2008; Baik et al., 2013). The researchers identified significant changes of opioid systems, for instance, declined enkephalin mRNA expression in the NAc(Avena et al., 2008). Therefore, the symptoms of withdrawal appear to be an influence of opioid changes because withdrawal can be achieved by antagonist naloxone of opioid. Surprisingly, food deprivation also has the ability to indicate opiate-like withdrawal symptoms (Avena et al., 2008).Withdrawal condition entails not less than two neurochemical manifestations. The first manifestation involves a decline in the extracellular DA in the NAc. Another manifestation entails the release of Ach (acetylcholine) from accumbens interneurons (Avena et al., 2008; Gearhardt et al., 2011).Adaptations of neurochemical in reaction to irregular sugar consumption imitate the influences of opiates(Dileone et al., 2016). It is postulated that irregular, large consumption
That craving is what powers the habit loop” (pg33). Craving is the actual fuel that starts the habit loop to a rotating cycle, without the feeling of crave there’s no habit loop since the individual doesn’t have any intention to seek rewards. Wolfram Schultz a professor of neuroscience at the University of Cambridge conducted an experiment with a monkey named Julio; the purpose of the experiment was to examine how Julio’s brain would react when Julio followed a procedure of touching a lever when the colored shape appeared on a monitor then Julio was rewarded with a drop of his favorite blackberry juice. While repeating this experiment, Schultz has seen an unusual activity inside Julio’s brain, where at first Julio’s brain activity started spiking when he was rewarded with drop of blackberry juice; however, as the experiment continued its brain activity started spiking when the cue appeared on the screen. Julio’s brain had developed a habit; “… habit only emerges once Julio begins craving the juice when he sees the cue” (49). Now that Julio has developed a craving for the blackberry juice, he will automatically follow the habit. This experiment clearly proves how significant craving can be since it drives the habit loop. Likewise, I crave the reward of finishing my schoolwork while relaxing to the music since; it allows me to release the stress that’s been pilling up inside my brain from
Drug addiction is often characterized as being a complex brain disease that causes compulsive, uncontrollable, drug craving, seeking and use without any regards to the consequences they may bring upon themselves, or society. As long as the brain is exposed to these large amounts of dopamine on the reward system, it will inevitably develop a tolerance to the current dopamine levels, which it is receiving, lessening the pleasure the user will experience. In order to satisfy the brains “reward...
Drugs seem to cause surges in dopamine neurotransmitters and other pleasure brain messengers. However, the brain quickly adapts and these circuits desensitize, which allows for withdrawal symptoms to occur (3). Drug addiction works on some of the same neurobiological mechanisms that aid in learning and memories (3). "This new view of dopamine as an aid to learning rather than a pleasure mediator may help explain why many addictive drugs, which unleash massive surges of the neurotransmitter in the brain, can drive continued use without producing pleasure-as when cocaine addicts continue to take hits long after the euphoric effects of the drug have worn off or when smokers smoke after cigarettes become distasteful." (4)
The sole purpose of a company is to offer goods and services while making a profit. If people have a liking for food products with so many unhealthy items and are willing to buy them, the companies have no obligation to reduce the amount of added ingredients. The companies aren’t the ones forcing the public to overeat. However, these companies shouldn’t market their products to people who they can easily exploit like children and those who are penurious. Michael Moss, author of the article “The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food” interviews several people who worked for certain big brand companies and gives us an abundant amount of information on how the food companies make and market their food to “get us hooked”.
The study presented in this presentation focus on four different aspects of the influence of neurotransmitters that have an influence on eating. The first aspect is a 36 amino acid peptide transmitter known as the NPY. The NPY contains five different receptors; Y1, Y2, Y4, Y5, and Y6. Y2 is specifically geared towards memory. Y5 pertains to eating. Y6 is found in some animals, but not really found in humans. The Y1 and Y5 receptors are specifically for eating. The more NPY found within the body, the more a person would eat. A question, which was presented in this presentation, was if certain areas of the brain could be identified as being responsive to the metabolic action of the NPY. In order to study this idea, and experiment was performed where NPY was injected directly into different target areas. From this, it was shown that there were specific areas of the brain that responded to the levels of NPY differently.
Not only are today’s families far less active, but easy access to rich-tasting, cheap food can be addictive. The fast food industry knows this and uses this information to make foods which make the brain crave more. In his book Salt Sugar Fat, author Michael Moss discussed this in an interview with food scientist Steve Witherly.
Growing rates of overweight adults and obesity have prompted the comparison between the uncontrolled intake of food and drugs. It has been smart to follow biological concepts from addiction to explore obsessive food seeking; a model is needed to understand how food and drugs differ in their ability to control behavior. Another article will look at the difference and commonalities in the behavioral responses to food and to drugs of abuse, with the goal to identify and new treatments for drug addiction or obesity.
All in all, each of the articles utilized three key factors: stress, glucocorticoids, and appetite. While the papers conflicted each other in regards to subject species, it is evident that stress-induced glucocorticoids are key factors for altering appetite and behavior. Subjects of higher cortisol sensitivity that undergo stressful environments are more likely to consume sweeter snacks. This is similar to the experiments conducted with rats, where the ones treated with mild stress are more likely to continuously eat if fed different diets rather than extremely stressful environments. It is because of these stressful environments that the neural circuitry behind appetite and motivation are altered, creating a reward system or a sense of relief through eating.
The addiction phase brings withdrawal symptoms that effect one’s daily lifestyle, and thus activate the anti-reward system. The anti-reward system plays a major role in the occurrence of aversive effects in the body like jitteriness, and nausea; and responsible for the negative-reinforcement that occurs through resumed drug taking. Negative reinforcement is responsible for bringing the aversive effects that occur during withdrawal (i.e., when one intends to stop consuming the drug). This highlights the importance of the neuroadaptations that occur with prolonged drug use and can occur with during over-consumption of caffeine (Meyer & Quenzer,
With this being something that I had practically daily, I knew that it would be the right item to choose for this reaction study. The first day that I went without the Strawberry milkshake from CookOut, I could immediately feel withdrawal from it, as if something was missing. At first, I was sure if it was because this was sort of my "reward" for completing daily tasks, because of the fact that it does contain a lot of sugars, or if it had become such a routine that my day just felt incomplete without it. Now, after seeing how sugar can be similar to addiction, I know that is definitely a reason why I was feeling this way and believe that it is a combination of all three. There were no real environmental factors that made it difficult to avoid the milkshake because I do not live near CookOut and do not have to pass it on my daily drive to school and work.
“Dopamine System May Be the Key to Addiction.” News Briefs. Nature Magazine. May-June 2012. National Drug Strategy Network. Web. 20 Apr. 2015
Gradually obesity, overweight, and other chronic health problems are starting to become more apparent in more individuals. Most studies have shown that individuals that are eating poorly don’t have the proper knowledge on how to eat a balanced meal. Being surrounded by so many options can overwhelm a person which can lead them to making the poor choice. In food psychology, understanding why certain people make certain food choices has made food psychologist realize that many individuals lack the knowledge of nutrition. By educating individuals on how to make better food choices and guiding them in the right direction it is possible for them to have a healthy life.
Through various observations and assumptions, there have been conversations on whether or not overconsumption of food is an addiction. However, many have come to the conclusion that food is an addiction if it is overconsume excessively than it is necessary for an individual’s diet. Nevertheless, food addiction can create health issues that can affect an individual’s body. Even though, many individual may have such knowledge of overconsumption of food; however, many may choose to ignore the consequences that comes with food addiction. Becoming a food addict is harmful and dangerous to an individual’s health.
How do you know when you are addicted to something? Is it a choice or just an effect? What most people do not understand, is that no one really chooses to be an addict. Being addicted to something such as drugs, alcohol, and food, is not due to someone waking up one day and choosing to not be in control. It is mostly due to deeper issues like depression, influences upbringing and where you live, things, which lead someone on the path for their search of an escape.
With a fuller and clearer picture of the bodily systems, and how they respond to food, we see that overeating and obesity is not only about self-control; it has turned into a complex physiological problem. There is a cycle: a cue triggers a dopamine fueled urge. The dopamine then leads us to eat more food. Eating food leads to the release of opioid, and the production of dopamine and opioids both stimulate further eating. “Cues ensure that we will work hard to obtain the reward” (Kessler, 2009, p.54 ), but the desire for reward is causing overeating and obesity problems.