Appetite. 2017 Mar 19;114:64-72. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.03.024. [Epub ahead of print]
Eating dependence and weight gain; no human evidence for a 'sugar-addiction' model of overweight.
- 1
- Faculty
of Psychology and Neuroscience; Dept of Neuropsychology &
Psychopharmacology; Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Electronic address: r.markus@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
- 2
- Nutrition and Behaviour Unit, School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- 3
- Human Biology, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, University Maastricht; Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- 4
- Faculty
of Psychology and Neuroscience; Dept of Neuropsychology &
Psychopharmacology; Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS:
There
is an increasing societal concern that consumption of specific foods
such as sugar might become 'addictive' and, hence, promote weight gain.
Claims about the addictiveness of sugar however are based largely on
findings from few animal studies, whereas there is a lack of direct
human evidence for symptoms of sugar-related substance dependence. The
current study examined in a large sample of human participants whether
foods mainly containing sugar in particular might cause 'addiction-like'
problems that meet clinical DSM criteria for substance dependence, and,
also whether in turn this relates to body weight and negative
affectivity (depressed mood).
METHODS:
In
a cross-sectional study, n = 1495 university students from a variety of
faculties were assessed for DSM-related signs of food addiction for
particular food categories (YFAS), and, also BMI and negative
affectivity.
RESULTS:
Results
revealed that from the total sample, 95% experienced at least one
symptom of food dependence and 12.6% met the YFAS classification for
'food addiction' as related to DSM-IV criteria. The majority of
respondents experienced these problems for combined high-fat savoury
(30%) and high-fat sweet (25%) foods, whereas only a minority
experienced such problems for low-fat/savoury (2%) and mainly
sugar-containing foods (5%). Overweight correlated only with
addictive-like problems for high-fat savoury and high-fat sweet foods
(P < 0.0001), while this was not found for foods mainly containing
sugar.
CONCLUSION:
The
current findings indicate that sugary foods contribute minimally to
'food dependence' and increased risk of weight gain. Instead, they are
consistent with the current scientific notion that food energy density,
and the unique individual experience of eating, plays an important role
in determining the reward value of food and promoting excessive energy
intake.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
BMI; Eating behaviour; Food addiction; Obesity; Sugar; YFAS
