Food Addiction Camila, Bri, Va, and Jean

Etiology and Psycopathology ● sugar ● salt ● fat

Etiology ● Biological ● Social ● Psychological

Psychopathology ● food is just as addictive as gambling or drinking ● gain a tolerance and have to eat more to accomplish the previous satisfaction ● triggers the same receptors in the brain as drugs and alcohol suggesting a correlation

Pathophysiology -Regulation of appetite and satiety happens through neuroendocrine regulation of eating behavior, energy metabolism and body fat mass. -complex system consisting of the central controls; brain stem, hypothalamus, and autonomic nervous system.

Pathophysiology -Imbalance can be associated with excessive caloric intake. -Food addicts become dependent upon the “good” feelings from eating certain foods.

Pathophysiology Reward System in brain: -Hardwired to seek out behaviors that release dopamine (like eating junk food) -When people repeatedly release dopamine in reward system, dopamine down-regulates -Fewer receptors=more dopamine= increased tolerance → unhappiness -Leads to eating more

Diagnosis -Determination of food addiction requires the use of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-IV); a manual developed by the American Psychiatric Association. -This system is used to verify standard criteria for identifying mental disorders and substance dependence. -This system is used in hospitals, clinics, and insurance companies. -For diagnosis, yes to 3 or more of following criteria would be subject for further evaluation: -Tolerance: The person needs increased amounts of the substance over time to achieve the same desired effect or feeling. -Withdrawal: When the substance is stopped, the person experiences physiological and/or psychological withdrawal symptoms—or the individual takes the substance again to relieve or avoid such symptoms.

Diagnosis cont... -Unintentional overuse: The person often takes more of the substance than intended, or takes it over a longer period of time than intended. -Persistent attempts at cutting down on the substance are unsuccessful. -Preoccupation with the substance: A great deal of time is spent on obtaining the substance, using the substance, or recovering from its effects. -Important social, occupational or recreational activities are abandoned or reduced in order to use the substance. -Use of the substance continues, despite the knowledge of having persistent or recurrent physical and/or psychological problems that were likely exacerbated by the substance.

Diagnosis cont... -To assist with diagnosis of food addiction, Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity created a food addiction scale: - -The scale generally asks how often do you partake in certain activities and how you are feeling before or after eating particular foods. -Some sample questions from the scale are: -I find myself continuing to consume certain foods even though I am no longer hungry -I eat to the point where I feel physically ill

Food addict symptoms Healthy eating Eating Disorders

Treatment/intervention/recovery ● Food abstinance o Ususally, flour and sugar ● 12 Step Program

References 1.Davis, C. (2014). Evolutionary and neuropsychological perspectives on addictive behaviors and addictive substances: relevance to the "food addiction" construct. Substance Abuse & Rehabilitation, doi: /SAR.S FAA Food Plan." FAA Food Plan. Food Addicts Anonymous, n.d. Web. 18 Feb Gearhardt AN, White MA, Masheb RM, Grilo CM.Compr Psychiatry Jul; 54(5): Epub 2013 Jan FoodAddictionResearchEducation. (2009). How Do I Know If I’m Addicted to food?. Retrieved from food/ 5. Blumenthal, D.M., Gold, M.S. (2010). Neurobiology and the addiction of food. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 13(4), doi: /MCO.0b013e32833ad4d4

References 6. DiLeone, R.J., Taylor, J.R., & Picciotto, M. (2012). The drive to eat: comparison and distinction between mechanism of food reward and drug addiction. Nature Neuroscience, 15(10), doi: /nn Eating Disorder Hope (2013). Food addiction: Causes, Symptoms, Signs and Treatment Help. Retrieved from 8. (2015) (2015)

Questions: 1.What are said to be the “trigger ingredients” for food addicts? 2. What happens when people repeatedly release dopamine in reward system? 3. How many of the categories from the DSM-IV manual must be fulfilled to be considered a food addict? What does the next procedure measure when evaluating a patient? 4. Do you believe that food addiction exists?