Food Addicts Have Withdrawal Effects Similar to Drugs and Alcohol

Is it possible that a diet that is high in calories can have the same impact on the brain as drugs and alcohol? In a recent study, it appears that rats who were weaned off a high-calorie diet showed the same effects on the brain as withdrawal from drugs and alcohol.

An article in US News Health suggests that while rat and human brains are not exactly the same, the findings of this study could indicate there is a link between yo-yo dieting and cycles of addiction and withdrawal.

Yo-yo dieting, which is a common habit among many chronic dieters, tends to generate dependence. When people who typically overeat stop overeating, stress hormones in their brain take action. This action potentially leads to anxiety, decreased motivation and the rejection of other food alternatives.

Researchers understand that food activates circuits in the brain that produce feelings of reward, much like sex and occasional drug use. In this particular study, researchers wanted to determine if the brain activity that makes people stressed when they withdraw from drugs works the same for food.

To find the answer, rats were given a regular diet for five days and then switched to a diet of chocolate-flavored food that was high in sugar. Once the chocolate-covered fare had run its course, the rats did not want to switch back to the ordinary food. When deprived of the sugary food the rats showed signs of anxiety. In addition, their brains acted like they were withdrawing from alcohol and drugs.

"A history of dieting and relapse generates anxiety. The next attempt to avoid junk foods is going to be more painful and stressful than the previous one, and therefore the likelihood of relapse is going to be progressively higher and higher," researchers said.