Questioning the validity of food addiction: a critical review
Food cravings (FC) are closely associated with behaviors such as loss of control, binge eating, and emotional eating. Although FC is among the symptoms proposed for food addiction (FA), we argue that the distress associated with eating, managing cravings, and experiencing loss of control may not, in...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1562185/full |
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| author | Jônatas Oliveira Giulia Cazetta Bestetti Isis De Carvalho Stelmo Larissa Antunes Priscylla Rodrigues Vilella Priscylla Rodrigues Vilella |
| author_facet | Jônatas Oliveira Giulia Cazetta Bestetti Isis De Carvalho Stelmo Larissa Antunes Priscylla Rodrigues Vilella Priscylla Rodrigues Vilella |
| author_sort | Jônatas Oliveira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Food cravings (FC) are closely associated with behaviors such as loss of control, binge eating, and emotional eating. Although FC is among the symptoms proposed for food addiction (FA), we argue that the distress associated with eating, managing cravings, and experiencing loss of control may not, in itself, constitute a framework consistent with addiction or addiction-like eating. Grouping these concepts under the FA label may contribute to conceptual confusion, potentially leading to diagnostic inaccuracies. This integrative review aimed to explore the concepts of FA and FC, as well as their interrelations, through methodologies such as self-report questionnaires and visual analog scales. A systematic search without time restrictions yielded 37 original studies for qualitative analysis. The selected investigations examined FA and FC as primary outcomes and were categorized into five thematic sections: (1) genetic factors, (2) neurobiology, (3) behavioral factors, (4) emotional factors, and (5) food cues. The findings indicate that cravings play a mediating role in disordered eating patterns and are associated with excessive consumption or impaired control in individuals exhibiting symptoms attributed to FA. This review addresses three key issues: (i) theoretical and psychometric challenges in the conceptualization of FA, (ii) redundancies among FC, eating-related distress, and self-reported loss of control, and (iii) whether FA is primarily a matter of semantics. Phrases related to constructs of substance use disorders correlate with constructs that are neuropsychopharmacological influenced, and they impose new constructs upon previously established eating behavior patterns, along with their already known neural and neuropsychological correlates (such as emotional eating, dietary restraint, binge eating, and craving). The concept of FA, along with its scale and the new diagnostic questionnaire, also integrates cultural perceptions of food with established psychological constructs, drawing on previously recognized phenomena. Investigating the continuum encompassing (i) cravings, (ii) disordered eating attitudes, and (iii) body image–related distress presents a significant challenge, particularly when researchers overlook the underlying human narratives that define this multifaceted phenomenon. Without a clear theoretical and epistemological framework, the boundaries of FA risk becoming overly broad, diminishing its utility as a diagnostic tool or basis for interventions. The challenges in establishing a consistent and precise definition underscore the need for further research to ensure the concept represents a distinct and scientifically valid phenomenon rather than a generalized reflection of eating-related constructs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3136cd5be976418392498dbe5784ff5b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1662-5153 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-3136cd5be976418392498dbe5784ff5b2025-08-20T03:34:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience1662-51532025-07-011910.3389/fnbeh.2025.15621851562185Questioning the validity of food addiction: a critical reviewJônatas Oliveira0Giulia Cazetta Bestetti1Isis De Carvalho Stelmo2Larissa Antunes3Priscylla Rodrigues Vilella4Priscylla Rodrigues Vilella5School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilSchool of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilInstitute for Research on Behavior and Food, São Paulo, BrazilInstitute for Research on Behavior and Food, São Paulo, BrazilInstitute for Research on Behavior and Food, São Paulo, BrazilSchool of Nutrition, Federal University of Goiás, Goiás, BrazilFood cravings (FC) are closely associated with behaviors such as loss of control, binge eating, and emotional eating. Although FC is among the symptoms proposed for food addiction (FA), we argue that the distress associated with eating, managing cravings, and experiencing loss of control may not, in itself, constitute a framework consistent with addiction or addiction-like eating. Grouping these concepts under the FA label may contribute to conceptual confusion, potentially leading to diagnostic inaccuracies. This integrative review aimed to explore the concepts of FA and FC, as well as their interrelations, through methodologies such as self-report questionnaires and visual analog scales. A systematic search without time restrictions yielded 37 original studies for qualitative analysis. The selected investigations examined FA and FC as primary outcomes and were categorized into five thematic sections: (1) genetic factors, (2) neurobiology, (3) behavioral factors, (4) emotional factors, and (5) food cues. The findings indicate that cravings play a mediating role in disordered eating patterns and are associated with excessive consumption or impaired control in individuals exhibiting symptoms attributed to FA. This review addresses three key issues: (i) theoretical and psychometric challenges in the conceptualization of FA, (ii) redundancies among FC, eating-related distress, and self-reported loss of control, and (iii) whether FA is primarily a matter of semantics. Phrases related to constructs of substance use disorders correlate with constructs that are neuropsychopharmacological influenced, and they impose new constructs upon previously established eating behavior patterns, along with their already known neural and neuropsychological correlates (such as emotional eating, dietary restraint, binge eating, and craving). The concept of FA, along with its scale and the new diagnostic questionnaire, also integrates cultural perceptions of food with established psychological constructs, drawing on previously recognized phenomena. Investigating the continuum encompassing (i) cravings, (ii) disordered eating attitudes, and (iii) body image–related distress presents a significant challenge, particularly when researchers overlook the underlying human narratives that define this multifaceted phenomenon. Without a clear theoretical and epistemological framework, the boundaries of FA risk becoming overly broad, diminishing its utility as a diagnostic tool or basis for interventions. The challenges in establishing a consistent and precise definition underscore the need for further research to ensure the concept represents a distinct and scientifically valid phenomenon rather than a generalized reflection of eating-related constructs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1562185/fulleating disorderseating behaviorfood addictionfood cravingdisordered eating |
| spellingShingle | Jônatas Oliveira Giulia Cazetta Bestetti Isis De Carvalho Stelmo Larissa Antunes Priscylla Rodrigues Vilella Priscylla Rodrigues Vilella Questioning the validity of food addiction: a critical review Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience eating disorders eating behavior food addiction food craving disordered eating |
| title | Questioning the validity of food addiction: a critical review |
| title_full | Questioning the validity of food addiction: a critical review |
| title_fullStr | Questioning the validity of food addiction: a critical review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Questioning the validity of food addiction: a critical review |
| title_short | Questioning the validity of food addiction: a critical review |
| title_sort | questioning the validity of food addiction a critical review |
| topic | eating disorders eating behavior food addiction food craving disordered eating |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1562185/full |
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