Biomaterial Database

The study of food addiction using animal models of binge eating. 2010

Nicole M Avena

University of Florida, Department of Psychiatry, Gainesville, 32608, United States. navena@ufl.edu

This review summarizes evidence of "food addiction" using animal models of binge eating. In our model of sucrose bingeing, behavioral components of addiction are demonstrated and related to neurochemical changes that also occur with addictive drugs. Evidence supports the hypothesis that rats can become dependent and "addicted" to sucrose. Results obtained when animals binge on other palatable foods, including a fat-rich food, are described and suggest that increased body weight can occur. However, the characterization of an addiction-like behavioral profile in animals with binge access to fat requires further exploration in order to dissociate the effect of increased body weight from the diet or schedule of feeding.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002032	Bulimia	Eating an excess amount of food in a short period of time, as seen in the disorder of BULIMIA NERVOSA. It is caused by an abnormal craving for food, or insatiable hunger also known as "ox hunger".	Binge Eating,Bulimias,Eating, Binge
D004041	Dietary Fats	Fats present in food, especially in animal products such as meat, meat products, butter, ghee. They are present in lower amounts in nuts, seeds, and avocados.	Fats, Dietary,Dietary Fat,Fat, Dietary
D005247	Feeding Behavior	Behavioral responses or sequences associated with eating including modes of feeding, rhythmic patterns of eating, and time intervals.	Dietary Habits,Eating Behavior,Faith-based Dietary Restrictions,Feeding Patterns,Feeding-Related Behavior,Food Habits,Diet Habits,Eating Habits,Behavior, Eating,Behavior, Feeding,Behavior, Feeding-Related,Behaviors, Eating,Behaviors, Feeding,Behaviors, Feeding-Related,Diet Habit,Dietary Habit,Dietary Restriction, Faith-based,Dietary Restrictions, Faith-based,Eating Behaviors,Eating Habit,Faith based Dietary Restrictions,Faith-based Dietary Restriction,Feeding Behaviors,Feeding Pattern,Feeding Related Behavior,Feeding-Related Behaviors,Food Habit,Habit, Diet,Habit, Dietary,Habit, Eating,Habit, Food,Habits, Diet,Pattern, Feeding,Patterns, Feeding,Restrictions, Faith-based Dietary
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001522	Behavior, Animal	The observable response an animal makes to any situation.	Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors
D013395	Sucrose	A nonreducing disaccharide composed of GLUCOSE and FRUCTOSE linked via their anomeric carbons. It is obtained commercially from SUGARCANE, sugar beet (BETA VULGARIS), and other plants and used extensively as a food and a sweetener.	Saccharose
D015430	Weight Gain	Increase in BODY WEIGHT over existing weight.	Gain, Weight,Gains, Weight,Weight Gains
D016739	Behavior, Addictive	The observable, measurable, and often pathological activity of an organism that portrays its inability to overcome a habit resulting in an insatiable craving for a substance or for performing certain acts. The addictive behavior includes the emotional and physical overdependence on the object of habit in increasing amount or frequency.	Addictive Behavior,Addictive Behaviors,Behaviors, Addictive
D019422	Dietary Sucrose	Sucrose present in the diet. It is added to food and drinks as a sweetener.	Sucrose, Dietary,Table Sugar,Dietary Sucroses,Sucroses, Dietary,Sugars, Table,Table Sugars
D023421	Models, Animal	Non-human animals, selected because of specific characteristics, for use in experimental research, teaching, or testing.	Experimental Animal Models,Laboratory Animal Models,Animal Model,Animal Model, Experimental,Animal Model, Laboratory,Animal Models,Animal Models, Experimental,Animal Models, Laboratory,Experimental Animal Model,Laboratory Animal Model,Model, Animal,Model, Experimental Animal,Model, Laboratory Animal,Models, Experimental Animal,Models, Laboratory Animal