ABSTRACT
As the obesity epidemic rages on without effective treatment, the food addiction model has gained attention as a new approach to treatment. Growing acceptance of the concept of food addiction is supported by well-documented similarities in neuro-functioning between overeating and classic drug addiction in sensitized craving and reward pathways, heightened reactivity to substancerelated cues, and suppression of cognitive centers. These neuro-anomalies manifest in patterns of behavior described in addiction diagnostic criteria by the American Psychiatric Association in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Illnesses (DSM). There are also other similarities between chemicals addiction and processed food addiction, including prominence of cravings, genetic anomalies, family patterns, behavioral patterns, congenital defects, extensive consequences, age of onset issues, and addiction-promoting business practices (tobacco, alcohol, and processed foods) related to advertising, availability, and pricing particularly to children (Iand et al., 2012).
