Food Addiction Debate: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Food-Addiction-Debate-Symptoms-Causes-and-Treatment.aspx Food addiction describes addiction-like responses to ultra-processed foods, but it is not yet a formal DSM-5 or ICD-11 diagnosis. Evidence links it to cravings, loss of control, reward pathways, trauma, and eating-disorder overlap. As the prevalence of obesity continues to rise throughout the world, emerging research indicates that a subset of individuals may experience addiction-like responses to ultra-processed foods (UPFs), with symptoms similar to those observed in substance use disorders (SUDs). However, food addiction is not currently a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5 or ICD-11, and its validity remains debated.3,5 In this context, food is considered a substance, with food addiction symptoms most commonly associated with foods high in fats and/or refined carbohydrates like sugar.