Sapere

Sugar and addiction:
Few studies have examined sugar addiction in humans and most evidence is from animal studies. It is a challenge to translate the results to humans as we don’t eat sugar by itself but rather in mixed foods. Animal research shows there are neurobiological differences between drugs and sugar, for example the dopaminergic response to sugar (and other foods) reduces after repeated exposure and with predictive cues (such as smells), while it does not with drugs. Addictive-like behaviours such as bingeing occur only in animal studies where sugar is given intermittently rather than ad-libitum and likely due to pleasant taste rather than neurobiological effects. In humans the research does not show increased dosage of sugar having increased potency and therefore increased addictive potential. In summary, addictive-like consumption of sugar is different to drug addiction in both neurobiology and behaviour.

If not addiction, then what?
While little evidence supports sugar as an addictive substance, it may be that sweetness or palatability is central to addictive-like eating. The glycemic index (GI) or glycemic load (GL) may play a role in the food addiction to sweet foods, although no mechanistic link has been suggested, and the authors suggest this as a future direction for research.

Perhaps aspects of sugar or sweet foods are a craving rather than an addiction. Cravings for palatable foods like chocolate differ from drug cravings in their intensity, frequency and duration. Food cravings are short lived and subside whereas drug cravings do not. It is also suggested that the combination of liking and restraint combine to make thoughts of liked foods (such as chocolate) more pre-occupying and this is experienced as a craving. Or put simply, not allowing yourself to eat something highly pleasurable makes you want it even more.