Are Cookies As Addictive As Pizza?

It’s common to hear people describe themselves as ‘chocoholics’, or say they’re ‘hooked’ on a particular fizzy drink. But is it really possible to be addicted to food? 

- Lilian Anekwe

We’re becoming more obese, as a society. Is this because some of us are becoming addicted to certain foods? One study, at Connecticut College in 2013, suggested that Oreos were “as addictive as cocaine,” and certainly, some people who are overweight exhibit behaviours associated with addiction, such as an inability to avoid particular foods and a tendency to over consume at times of stress. But this is not true of all overweight individuals. So does ‘food addiction’ actually exist?

To answer that, we first need to understand what addiction is. The criteria for diagnosing substance addiction disorders in the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders include developing a tolerance, having withdrawal symptoms and becoming dependent. The latest version, DSM-5, added: “craving or a strong desire or urge to use a substance”.

The involvement of the brain is key to diagnosing addiction. Addiction affects areas of the brain that are linked to pleasure, reward and decision-making. It also affects neurotransmitters, the chemical signals used for communication between brain cells and brain regions. Over time, memory of previous exposures to rewards (eg: food, sex, alcohol or drugs) leads to a biological response, such as cravings.

The best tool that researchers have for applying all this to food is the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS). This 25-point questionnaire was developed in 2009 by Ashley Gearhardt, an assistant professor of clinical psychology at the University of Michigan. She believes addictive processes do play a role in eating-related problems.