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Implications of Food Addiction and Drug Use in Obesity

Nicole M. Avena, PhD; Miaoyuan Wang, BA; Mark S. Gold, MD

  • Psychiatric Annals
  • October 2011 - Volume 41 · Issue 10: 478-482
  • DOI: 10.3928/00485713-20110921-06
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Abstract

There have long been anecdotal accounts of food addiction, but the concept has recently gained scientific validity. Abnormal preoccupation and maladaptive behaviors associated with the procurement and consumption of highly palatable foods has been associated with cases of aberrant eating behaviors, some of which may result in obesity.
AUTHORS

Nicole M. Avena, PhD, is Research Assistant Professor, University of Florida College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Gainesville, FL; and Visiting Research Associate, Princeton University, Department of Psychology, Princeton, NJ. Miaoyuan Wang, BA, is second-year medical student, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL; and Mark S. Gold, MD, is Distinguished Professor, Eminent Scholar and Psychiatry Chairman, University of Florida College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Gainesville, FL.

Supported by University of Florida, DA-030123-01 (NMA), National Eating Disorders Association. The authors would like to extend their appreciation to Ryan Ramezani and Paula Edge for their assistance preparing this manuscript.

Dr. Avena, Mr. Wang, and Dr. Gold have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Address correspondence to: Nicole M. Avena, PhD, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute; fax: 609-259-3787; email: .navena@ufl.edu

doi: 10.3928/00485713-20110921-06

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