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Background: The emergence of new scientific data detailing a relationship between food and addiction challenges practitioners with how to integrate this new-found knowledge in clinical practice. The role of a holistic, integrated and flexible treatment model, including psychosocial-environmental, nutritional and physical activity components will be presented for discussion.
Introduction
The reward center, the role of dopamine and the importance of the dopamine receptor in the perception of pleasure and reward
The signiifance of the prefrontal cortex in addiction
Historical timeline for neuroscience research studying the relationship between food and addiction: animal and human data
Changes in the dopamine receptor population and prefrontal cortex activation during addiction
The hyperpalatables (sugary/fatty/salty food combinations), primarily as refined and processed products, and food addiction
Cravings and their relationship to calorie-dense foods
Sugar is as addictive as cocaine
Cross addictions: nicotine, alcohol, drugs
Clinical Assessment of Food and Addiction
Yale Food Addiction Scale as the first scientifically validated assessment for food addiction
New Treatments for Overweight based on Obesity Models
The role of epigenetics in the detox and recovery template
The holistic and integrative approach: mental, nutritional and physical pillars
The emergence of new scientific data detailing a relationship between food and addiction challenges practitioners with how to integrate this new-found knowledge in clinical practice. How does an addiction model interface with traditional non-abstinence therapeutic modalities? Does the existence of evidence based science help decrease the shame, blame and guilt often felt by the those with eating disorders? The role of a holistic, integrated and flexible treatment model, including psychosocial-environmental, nutritional and physical activity components, will be presented for discussion.
Pam Peeke is a Pew Foundation Scholar in nutrition and metabolism, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland, and Fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Peeke is the recipient of the Intramural Research and Training Award as well as the National Research Award at the National Institutes of Health where she conducted her original research on the relationship between visceral adipose tissue and chronic elevations of glucocorticoids. She is the senior editor of the women's health section of the second edition of Lifestyle Medicine textbook, and WebMD's lifestyle expert.
