Neurobiological and neuropharmacological aspects of food addiction

• Published in: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2022-08, Vol.139, p.104760-104760, Article 104760
• Main Authors: Guleken, Zozan, Uzbay, Tayfun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brain reward system; Eating disorders; Feeding disorders; Food addiction; Neurobiology; Neuropharmacology
• ISSN: 0149-7634; 1873-7528
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104760

This review aims to draw attention to current studies on syndromes related to food eating behavior, including food addiction, and to highlight the neurobiological and neuropharmacological aspects of food addiction toward the development of new therapies. Food addiction and eating disorders are influenced by several neurobiological factors. Changes in feeding behavior, food addiction, and its pharmacological therapy are related to complex neurobiological processes in the brain. Thus, it is not surprising that there is inconsistency among various individual studies. In this review, we assessed literature including both experimental and clinical studies regarding food addiction as a feeding disorder. We selected articles from animal studies, randomized clinical trials, meta-analyses, narrative, and systemic reviews given that, crucial quantitative data with a measure of neurobiological, neuropharmacological aspects and current therapies of food addiction as an outcome. Thus, the main goal to outline here is to investigate and discuss the association between the brain reward system and feeding behavior in the frame of food addiction in the light of current literature. •The brain reward system plays a basic role in the mechanism of food addiction.•Various neurochemicals play roles in the formation and maintenance of food addiction.•Food addiction and obesity should be treated as separate neuropsychiatric problems.•The relationship between gut microbiota and food addiction remains unclear.•There is no radical treatment for food addiction, but new approaches are promising.