Food Addiction: A New Substance Use Disorder-View Presentation

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Video Summary

Dr. Ashley Gerhardt explores the idea of a new substance use disorder related to food intake, citing parallels between the tobacco and highly processed food industries. She argues that the addictive and compulsive behaviors triggered by these processed foods have contributed to issues like binge eating, obesity, and diet-related diseases. Dr. Gerhardt suggests that some individuals may have a clinically significant addiction to these foods and questions whether a new food substance use disorder should be recognized in the DSM-5. The panel discussion focuses on the concept of food addiction and its implications for public health and treatment strategies. The speakers suggest that highly processed foods can have addictive properties and argue for a food addiction diagnosis in the DSM-5. They discuss the neural circuitry involved in addiction, social determinants of health, prevention strategies, and treatment approaches. The panelists emphasize the significance of understanding and addressing food addiction to improve outcomes for individuals struggling with overeating and obesity.

Keywords

substance use disorder

food intake

tobacco industry

highly processed food industry

addictive behaviors

compulsive behaviors

binge eating

obesity

food addiction

DSM-5

neural circuitry

social determinants of health

treatment approaches