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How much does the Addiction-Like Eating Behavior Scale add to the debate regarding food versus eating addictions?

International Journal of Obesity volume 42, page 946 (2018)Cite this article

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Recently in the International Journal of Obesity, Ruddock et al.1 validated the Addiction-Like Eating Behavior Scale (AEBS), which measures eating as a behavioral addiction. This contrasts the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), which adapts the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual substance-use disorder (SUD) criteria2 to operationalize a food addiction to high-fat/sugar foods.3, 4 These differing perspectives reflect a debate in the field regarding whether addictive-like eating is more appropriately conceptualized as a behavioral eating addiction or a substance-based food addiction.5, 6 We agree with Ruddock et al.1 that an addiction framework may have important implications for eating-related problems and obesity. However, we believe that the AEBS does not parallel theoretical perspectives of behavioral addictions and cannot differentiate between eating versus food addiction.

Ruddock et al.1 state that the AEBS overcomes limitations of the YFAS by assessing behavioral features of an eating addiction. Yet, all addictive disorders, including both SUDs and gambling disorder, are diagnosed based on behavioral criteria (for example, continued use/engagement despite negative consequences). Indeed, the YFAS also relies on behavioral indicators to operationalize food addiction. Rather, the distinguishing feature between SUDs and behavioral addictions is whether there is a substance that may perpetuate compulsive use. Thus, validity of an eating (versus food) addiction relies on evidence that (specific) foods do not contribute to the addiction phenotype.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    E M Schulte & A N Gearhardt

  2. Departments of Psychiatry, Child Study and Neuroscience and the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    M N Potenza

Authors
  1. E M Schulte
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  2. M N Potenza
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  3. A N Gearhardt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E M Schulte.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest. Dr Potenza has: consulted for and advised Rivermend Health, Opiant/Lakelight Therapeutics and Jazz Pharmaceuticals; received research support (to Yale) from the Mohegan Sun Casino and the National Center for Responsible Gaming; and consulted for legal and gambling entities on issues related to impulse-control disorders and addictions.

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Schulte, E., Potenza, M. & Gearhardt, A. How much does the Addiction-Like Eating Behavior Scale add to the debate regarding food versus eating addictions?. Int J Obes 42, 946 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.265

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