Obesity is an increasing public health issue in many parts of the world. Lifestyle treatment is the recommended first-line treatment although the weight reduction over time is limited. Food addiction (FA) is an upcoming perspective viewing some individual’s eating behaviors as similar to substance abuse described in DSM-IV-TR. What impact FA might have in lifestyle treatment is unclear. Self-efficacy for physical activity (SEPA) is a well-known predictor for physical activity and a variable in lifestyle treatment. The purpose of this explorative cross-sectional study was to investigate how FA and SEPA separately and together relate to days in lifestyle treatment for obesity. The study had 41 participants in different stages of lifestyle treatment. Instruments used to measure FA and SEPA were Yale Food Addiction Scale – Swedish (YFAS-S) and Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale – Swedish (ESES-S). FA and SEPA did not relate to each other or to number of days in treatment, indicating that the two factors are unaffected by lifestyle treatment. Future studies investigating if FA affects weight regain after treatment are suggested. / Fetma är ett växande folkhälsoproblem i många delar av världen. Livsstilsbehandling är den rekommenderade första behandlingsåtgärden trots att viktminskningen på längre sikt för de flesta är låg. Matberoende (FA) är ett relativt nytt perspektiv som förklarar vissa individers förhållande till mat som likvärdigt andra missbruk beskrivna i DSM-IV-TR. Vilken påverkan FA har i en livsstilsbehandling mot övervikt är ännu inte klarlagt. Self-efficacy för fysisk aktivitet (SEPA) är en välkänd prediktor för fysisk aktivitet och en variabel i livsstilsbehandling. Den här tvärsnittsstudien ämnar undersöka hur FA och SEPA enskilt och tillsammans relaterar till antalet dagar i en livsstilsbehandling. Mätningar av FA och SEPA gjordes med Yale Food Addiction Scale – Swedish (YFAS-S) och Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale – Swedish (ESES-S). FA och SEPA korrelerade inte med varandra eller med dagar i behandling vilket indikerar att de två faktorerna inte påverkas av livsstilsbehandling. Framtida studier som undersöker FA:s eventuella påverkan på återgång i vikt efter behandling föreslås.

No description available.

Compulsive eating behavior is a transdiagnostic construct that shares many behavioral, neurobiological, and theoretical features with compulsive drug use. The focus of this dissertation is to progress a framework for compulsive eating behavior, including identification of risk factors for its development and examination of functional neuroadaptations to brain reward systems in an animal model of compulsive eating. We first investigated impulsivity (impulsive choice and impulsive action) as a potential vulnerability factor for the development of binge and compulsive eating behavior. Impulsivity has been implicated in drug addiction as well as eating disorders and obesity, but its exact role in the conferment of risk for compulsive eating is unknown. To achieve this, we measured impulsive choice (i.e. delay discounting) and impulsive action (i.e. motor impulsivity) and subsequent binge-like eating. We observed no effects of impulsive choice behavior on binge-like eating of palatable food; however, impulsive action predicted higher binge-like eating, higher motivation for palatable food, and increased compulsive-eating behavior. Therefore, impulsive action, but not impulsive choice, predicted the development of binge- and compulsive-like eating behaviors. The second aim of this dissertation was to investigate functional neuroadaptations to brain reward pathways in rats with a history of palatable diet alternation, a model of compulsive eating. Overeating of palatable food, similar to exposure to drugs of abuse, is hypothesized to cause reward deficits via downregulation of mesolimbic dopamine systems. To investigate this, we measured sensitivity to d-Amphetamine using behavioral and neurochemical methods. To identify potential neuroadaptations to the dopamine and dopamine transporter (DAT) systems, we assessed baseline NAc-shell dopamine and DAT function in vivo. In rats with a history of palatable diet alternation, we observed deficits in the stimulating, reward-enhancing, and rewarding effects of d-Amphetamine, and impaired d-Amphetamine-induced dopamine efflux in the NAc-shell. Furthermore, dopamine and dopamine transporter systems were downregulated evidenced by decreased extracellular NAc-shell dopamine at baseline and decreased DAT function. These results contribute to an overall framework for compulsive eating behavior where initial impulsivity predisposes compulsive eating and compulsive eating results in the emergence of reward deficits. / 2021-06-14T00:00:00Z

ABCTRACT BACKGROUND: Currently, the diagnosis of ADHD is highly debated. Symptoms pass from childhood to adulthood. It turns out that people who according to the questionnaire YFAS meet the diagnostic criteria for dependence on food, show more comorbidity of other disorders such as binge eating, depressive, or ADHD. OBJECTIVE: The research problem and the aim of the diploma thesis is to find out what effect the regular diet regimen has on the diagnosis of food dependence in clients who are being treated in residential treatment in the treatment community of NL dependence. Assess whether a food addiction is more likely to suffer from ADHD symptoms and symptoms of psychopathology according to the SCL - 90 questionnaire. METHODS: The thesis is based on data from the GAČR ADHD project. The research was conducted in 5 therapeutic communities in the Czech Republic. The YFAS, DIVA and SCL- 90 questionnaires were used for the research. Test cells were collected in 4 waves of data collection, but only the first and second wave of data collection are used in this work because we are interested in data about clients on arrival and during the stay. Of the other questionnaires used in the GAČR ADHD project, very short case studies were developed and only for people who were addicted to food. RESEARCH FILE: The thesis is...

Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic and limiting one's food intake, or dieting, is usually unsuccessful. The purpose of the study was to explore the effect of food addiction (FA) on the current clinical and behavioral epidemic of obesity. FA, synonymous with food-dependency, is tentatively defined as an eating disorder based on substance dependence, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Measurement of FA has been operationalized by the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) by applying the diagnostic criteria of substance dependence to eating behaviors. This study was based on the biological theory of chemical addiction and the evidence that highly processed, high-fat, and high-sugar foods may be addictive and may contribute to unsuccessful dieting. To explore the difficulty of adhering to healthy food choices, 6 women were identified who satisfied the diagnostic criteria of FA using the YFAS. These women were invited to participate in a qualitative study. The full transcripts, which were coded via interpretative phenomenological analysis, revealed 6 major themes. The most salient master themes were the loss of control over food intake, the need for external control for successful weight loss, and the significant distress caused by food and eating. All the women interviewed agreed that FA is an eating disorder and that (a) best results were obtained from sugar and flour abstinence and (b) success was found in a 12 Step program for FA based on an addiction model. Once identified with the YFAS, FA has a large impact for social change. Those recognized as having a FA can be offered a specific treatment, based on an addiction model, which differs from the usual treatment for obesity and offers a solution for successful weight management.

No description available.

Similarities and differences between obesity and addiction are a prominent topic of ongoing research. We conducted an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis on 87 studies in order to map the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to reward in participants with obesity, substance addiction and non-substance (or behavioural) addiction, and to identify commonalities and differences between them. Our study confirms the existence of alterations during reward processing in obesity, non-substance addiction and substance addiction. Specifically, participants with obesity or with addictions differed from controls in several brain regions including prefrontal areas, subcortical structures and sensory areas. Additionally, participants with obesity and substance addictions exhibited similar blood-oxygen-level-dependent fMRI hyperactivity in the amygdala and striatum when processing either general rewarding stimuli or the problematic stimuli (food and drug-related stimuli, respectively). We propose that these similarities may be associated with an enhanced focus on reward – especially with regard to food or drug-related stimuli – in obesity and substance addiction. Ultimately, this enhancement of reward processes may facilitate the presence of compulsive-like behaviour in some individuals or under some specific circumstances. We hope that increasing knowledge about the neurobehavioural correlates of obesity and addictions will lead to practical strategies that target the high prevalence of these central public health challenges.

A incidência global de obesidade tem aumentado nas últimas décadas e o consumo excessivo de alimentos industrializados ricos em açúcar e gordura está entre suas principais causas. Pesquisas recentes têm mostrado que estes alimentos desencadeiam mecanismos neurais e comportamentos semelhantes à adicção a drogas. Sabe-se que hábitos e preferências alimentares de adultos são adquiridos na infância, mas intervenções efetivas para prevenção da obesidade e suas comorbidades em crianças e adolescentes ainda constituem um desafio para a saúde pública. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do consumo de dieta de cafeteria e retirada desta no comportamento alimentar, peso corporal, perfil lipídico, regularidade do ciclo estral, e comportamento de ansiedade e motivação. Ratas Wistar tiveram acesso limitado a itens alimentares de consumo humano de alta densidade energética por quatro semanas, ao final das quais foi realizada a retirada da dieta experimental de duas maneiras: para um grupo total e brusca, e para outro gradual durante uma semana. Após essa retirada, que simula dietas humanas de restrição, as ratas foram submetidas a testes comportamentais para avaliar ansiedade (labirinto em cruz elevado), e motivação para restabelecimento do acesso à dieta de cafeteria (modelo de restabelecimento). O grupo submetido à dieta de cafeteria apresentou maior consumo de gorduras totais e saturadas (p<0,05), e menor consumo de proteínas totais e fibras (p<0,05). Apesar disso, o consumo energético diário entre os grupos não atingiu diferença estatisticamente significativa, assim como o peso corporal das ratas. Após retirada da dieta de cafeteria, o consumo energético foi reduzido significativamente, porém, não acompanhado de perda de peso. Houve diferença significativa no perfil lipídico, sendo que ratas do grupo Cafeteria Sem Retirada tiveram os maiores valores de colesterol total e colesterol LDL (p<0,05). As ratas que sofreram retirada da dieta de cafeteria tiveram seus valores de colesterol similares às alimentadas somente com ração. A retirada completa da dieta de cafeteria e consequente diminuição do consumo energético foi responsável por irregularidade no ciclo estral das ratas. Os resultados no labirinto em cruz elevado não atingiram diferença estatisticamente significativa. O grupo Ração passou mais tempo no lado claro (p<0,05), conforme mostrado pelo teste de restabelecimento. A oferta limitada, de curto prazo, pós-desmame da dieta de cafeteria foi efetiva no desenvolvimento de compulsão alimentar em ratas adolescentes, porém sem evidências de vício alimentar. É provável que a obesidade seja condição necessária para o vício. Esperamos que os resultados deste estudo contribuam para o conhecimento da relação entre qualidade da dieta e comportamento alimentar e de adicção em ratas adolescentes. / The global incidence of obesity has steadily risen in the last decades and the excessive intake of industrialized food rich in sugar and fat is among its main causes. Recent researches have shown that these foods activate neural mechanism and behaviors similar to what is seen with drug addiction. It is known that adults eating habits and preferences are generally established during childhood, but effective preventive measures against obesity and its comorbities in children and adolescents are still a current public health challenge. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a cafeteria diet intake and withdrawal on eating behavior, body weight, lipid profile, estrous cycle regularity, and anxiety-like and motivational behavior. Female Wistar rats had limited access to energy-dense food items typically consumed by humans for four weeks, at the end of which, withdrawal from this diet occurred in one of two ways: for a group withdrawal was abrupt and total, and for another group, gradual for one week. After withdrawal, which attempts to mimic human restrictive dieting, we evaluated rats anxiety-like behavior through the elevated plus maze, and their motivation to reinstate access to the cafeteria diet through a reinstatement model. Daily energy intake between groups did not reach significant difference, as well as their body weight. Cafeteria fed rats did gain weight at a faster pace, and had a significant greater intake of total and saturated fat, and sodium (p<0.05); and a significantly lower intake of proteins and fibers (p<0.05). Groups that underwent withdrawal reduced their caloric intake significantly, but there was no weight loss. Rats with continuous access to cafeteria diet also had higher levels of total and LDL cholesterol (p<0.05), and rats from withdrawal groups had their cholesterol levels similar to chow-only animals. The total withdrawal of the cafeteria diet and resulting lower energy intake were also responsible for estrous cycle irregularities. There was no significant difference in rats performance in the EPM test. Chow only rats spent significantly more time in an aversive setting in order to gain access to an item from the cafeteria diet (p<0.05). The limited, short term, post-weaning offer of a cafeteria diet was effective in developing compulsive eating disorder, but without signs of food addiction. It is likely that obesity is precedent to the development of addiction. We expect that the results from this project contribute to the ongoing discussion and investigation on eating and addiction behavior in female adolescents rats.

A incidência global de obesidade tem aumentado nas últimas décadas e o consumo excessivo de alimentos industrializados ricos em açúcar e gordura está entre suas principais causas. Pesquisas recentes têm mostrado que estes alimentos desencadeiam mecanismos neurais e comportamentos semelhantes à adicção a drogas. Sabe-se que hábitos e preferências alimentares de adultos são adquiridos na infância, mas intervenções efetivas para prevenção da obesidade e suas comorbidades em crianças e adolescentes ainda constituem um desafio para a saúde pública. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do consumo de dieta de cafeteria e retirada desta no comportamento alimentar, peso corporal, perfil lipídico, regularidade do ciclo estral, e comportamento de ansiedade e motivação. Ratas Wistar tiveram acesso limitado a itens alimentares de consumo humano de alta densidade energética por quatro semanas, ao final das quais foi realizada a retirada da dieta experimental de duas maneiras: para um grupo total e brusca, e para outro gradual durante uma semana. Após essa retirada, que simula dietas humanas de restrição, as ratas foram submetidas a testes comportamentais para avaliar ansiedade (labirinto em cruz elevado), e motivação para restabelecimento do acesso à dieta de cafeteria (modelo de restabelecimento). O grupo submetido à dieta de cafeteria apresentou maior consumo de gorduras totais e saturadas (p<0,05), e menor consumo de proteínas totais e fibras (p<0,05). Apesar disso, o consumo energético diário entre os grupos não atingiu diferença estatisticamente significativa, assim como o peso corporal das ratas. Após retirada da dieta de cafeteria, o consumo energético foi reduzido significativamente, porém, não acompanhado de perda de peso. Houve diferença significativa no perfil lipídico, sendo que ratas do grupo Cafeteria Sem Retirada tiveram os maiores valores de colesterol total e colesterol LDL (p<0,05). As ratas que sofreram retirada da dieta de cafeteria tiveram seus valores de colesterol similares às alimentadas somente com ração. A retirada completa da dieta de cafeteria e consequente diminuição do consumo energético foi responsável por irregularidade no ciclo estral das ratas. Os resultados no labirinto em cruz elevado não atingiram diferença estatisticamente significativa. O grupo Ração passou mais tempo no lado claro (p<0,05), conforme mostrado pelo teste de restabelecimento. A oferta limitada, de curto prazo, pós-desmame da dieta de cafeteria foi efetiva no desenvolvimento de compulsão alimentar em ratas adolescentes, porém sem evidências de vício alimentar. É provável que a obesidade seja condição necessária para o vício. Esperamos que os resultados deste estudo contribuam para o conhecimento da relação entre qualidade da dieta e comportamento alimentar e de adicção em ratas adolescentes. / The global incidence of obesity has steadily risen in the last decades and the excessive intake of industrialized food rich in sugar and fat is among its main causes. Recent researches have shown that these foods activate neural mechanism and behaviors similar to what is seen with drug addiction. It is known that adults eating habits and preferences are generally established during childhood, but effective preventive measures against obesity and its comorbities in children and adolescents are still a current public health challenge. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a cafeteria diet intake and withdrawal on eating behavior, body weight, lipid profile, estrous cycle regularity, and anxiety-like and motivational behavior. Female Wistar rats had limited access to energy-dense food items typically consumed by humans for four weeks, at the end of which, withdrawal from this diet occurred in one of two ways: for a group withdrawal was abrupt and total, and for another group, gradual for one week. After withdrawal, which attempts to mimic human restrictive dieting, we evaluated rats anxiety-like behavior through the elevated plus maze, and their motivation to reinstate access to the cafeteria diet through a reinstatement model. Daily energy intake between groups did not reach significant difference, as well as their body weight. Cafeteria fed rats did gain weight at a faster pace, and had a significant greater intake of total and saturated fat, and sodium (p<0.05); and a significantly lower intake of proteins and fibers (p<0.05). Groups that underwent withdrawal reduced their caloric intake significantly, but there was no weight loss. Rats with continuous access to cafeteria diet also had higher levels of total and LDL cholesterol (p<0.05), and rats from withdrawal groups had their cholesterol levels similar to chow-only animals. The total withdrawal of the cafeteria diet and resulting lower energy intake were also responsible for estrous cycle irregularities. There was no significant difference in rats performance in the EPM test. Chow only rats spent significantly more time in an aversive setting in order to gain access to an item from the cafeteria diet (p<0.05). The limited, short term, post-weaning offer of a cafeteria diet was effective in developing compulsive eating disorder, but without signs of food addiction. It is likely that obesity is precedent to the development of addiction. We expect that the results from this project contribute to the ongoing discussion and investigation on eating and addiction behavior in female adolescents rats.

Research on obesity, weight loss, and food addiction (FA) suggested a strong relationship between use of food additives and the brain's addictive response to food. Previous researchers have examined (FA) and have identified certain food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as contributors to food addiction and overeating. Social cognitive theory (SCT) has also been effective in addressing addictive behaviors such as drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and smoking cessation (Bricker et al., 2010). However, researchers had not examined food addiction, social cognitive theory, and obesity in the same study. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to compare the effects of SCT-based health information and non-SCT-based health information on FA among obese and overweight women. The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) was used to measure changes in FA and food addiction symptoms among 84 obese and overweight women who received SCT-based health information and non-SCT-based health information. Total scores from pretests and posttests were analyzed using analysis of covariance. Between-group differences on the symptom count posttest scores of the YFAS were analyzed using analysis of variance. Scores were used to determine the difference in FA and FA symptoms between nonrandomized groups. Although the results were not statistically significant, almost 60% (n = 50) of participants experienced a favorable decrease in FA symptoms and experienced weight loss. Findings may provide a basis for determining additional options for health professionals to address obesity and FA patterns.