Food addiction distinguishes an overweight phenotype that can be reversed by low calorie diet

Similarities in neural activation patterns in obese and substance‐dependent subjects led to the food addiction concept, but studies exploiting this issue for obesity stratification are missing. We assessed brain activation in response to food cues using 18F‐2‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐glucose‐PET in 36 overwei...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European eating disorders review 2018-11, Vol.26 (6), p.657-670
Main Authors: Guzzardi, Maria Angela, Garelli, Silvia, Agostini, Alessandro, Filidei, Elena, Fanelli, Flaminia, Giorgetti, Assuero, Mezzullo, Marco, Fucci, Sabrina, Mazza, Roberta, Vicennati, Valentina, Iozzo, Patricia, Pagotto, Uberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addictions
Adult
Brain - physiology
brain metabolism
Caloric Restriction
Cues
Diet
Female
Food
Food Addiction - diagnosis
Food Addiction - physiopathology
Humans
nutrient intake
Obesity
Overweight - diet therapy
Overweight - physiopathology
Phenotype
positron emission tomography
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Treatment Outcome
Yale Food Addiction Scale
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Summary:Similarities in neural activation patterns in obese and substance‐dependent subjects led to the food addiction concept, but studies exploiting this issue for obesity stratification are missing. We assessed brain activation in response to food cues using 18F‐2‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐glucose‐PET in 36 overweight women, stratified by low or high food addiction groups according to the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS). Assessments were repeated after a 3‐month diet. We found greater activation in thalamus, hypothalamus, midbrain, putamen, and occipital cortex (reward), but not in prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices (control/reward receipt) in the high‐YFAS versus low‐YFAS group. In high‐YFAS subjects, orbitofrontal responsiveness was inversely related to YFAS severity and hunger rating, and positive associations were observed between regional brain activation and lipid intake. A 3‐month diet abolished group differences in brain activation. Our data suggest that food addiction distinguishes an overweight phenotype that can be reversed by diet, opening to personalized strategies in obesity treatment.
ISSN:1072-4133
1099-0968
DOI:10.1002/erv.2652