Overeaters and Drug Abusers Share Addictive Brain Chemistry

WASHINGTON (ISNS) -- Failed dieters may be pushed to over-eat not by their stomachs, but by their brains. The brain chemistry that makes it hard for alcoholics, drug users and smokers to quit their addictions also punishes us for trading sugar for salad, according to a new study of food consumption in rats.


The research supports those who believe that overeating can, in extreme cases, be considered an addiction comparable to drug abuse or gambling.

Some eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, are already included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, which psychiatrists use to diagnose their patients. Overeating is a controversial candidate for inclusion in the next version of the manual.

"For people who are eating way beyond their need and storing excess fat, there's a debate as to whether you want to call that a disorder of the brain," said Charles O'Brien, director of the Center for Studies in Addiction at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and member of the task force for the new DSM.

Now Pietro Cottone and Valentina Sabino, co-directors of the Laboratory of Addictive Disorders at Boston University, have found that feeding unhealthy food to rats can alter the same region of the brain that changes when they are given alcohol, opiates or nicotine.

The scientists switched a group of rats from their normal diet of boring but nutritious rodent chow to a sugary diet of calorie-dense food. After two days of decadence, the animals were returned to a healthy diet. The pampered rats no longer cared for the healthy food; they ate less of it than their comrades who had never tried sugary food.

This change in appetite also happens in people who cycle back and forth between healthy and unhealthy foods, said Cottone. They also tend lose their desire for healthy foods enjoyed by others.

But it wasn't just that the healthy food had lost its appeal. Returning to a diet of normal food affected the amygdala of each rat, the region of the brain that produces anxiety. Brain cells in this area churned out five times the normal amount of a protein called corticotropin-releasing factor, or CRF -- the same chemical that punishes addicts who are trying to give up their drug of choice.

Relief from the anxiety-inducing chemical only came when the rats returned to a sugary diet and gorged themselves, increasing their consumption of food as compared to their first experience with it.

"This [CRF] punishment, this negative einforcement is causing anxiety and is increasing the probability that bad behavior is performed in the future to relieve anxiety," said Cottone.

The destructive eating habits of the rats improved when Cottone treated them with a substance that blocks CRF from attaching to the brain cells. They regained some of their taste for healthy foods and reduced the amount of sugar they ate.

Studies in the 1990s found that CRF blockers could help rats overcome exposure to drugs. For years, the pharmaceutical industry has been trying to develop drugs based on these chemicals for alcoholics, smokers and drug abusers.

Cottone suggests that they add compulsive eaters to their list of potential clientele.

Ask the Expert - Week 3

Each Friday, I will post a question answered by Dr. Kathryn J. Zerbe. The questions are part of an on-going coversation with Dr. Zerbe from the New York Times.

NY Times Bio
Dr. Zerbe is the author of “The Body Betrayed: A Deeper Understanding of Women, Eating Disorders, and Treatment” (Gurze Books, 1993) and “Integrated Treatment of Eating Disorders: Beyond the Body Betrayed” (Norton, 2008). She has had 25 years of experience working with individuals with eating disorders and directed the Eating Disorder Unit at the Menninger Clinic for five years. She also served on the American Psychiatric Association’s Work Group on Eating Disorders in 2000 and 2006.


Week Three

I am fairly certain that my sister in law (mid-30s) suffers from bulimia–she is extremely thin and looks unhealthy, but eats a lot whenever I see her, typically at family meals/restaurant visits. She always leaves to visit the bathroom fairly obviously not long after we’ve finished eating and I’ve occasionally smelled vomit when I follow her into the bathroom. I understand she had an experience with an eating disorder about 10 years ago but I don’t know that she ever stopped having a problem. The family doesn’t speak openly about it so I don’t feel comfortable approaching her myself, and I’m also not 100% sure of course. Do you have any suggestions on how to handle this situation?

From Dr. Zerbe:
These situations in a family are always difficult to handle. It does sound to me as if your sister-in-law could have relapsed into bulimia based on your observation of her leaving to go to the bathroom after eating large amounts of food and sometimes smelling vomit.

I suggest you talk to her and express your concerns. You might also try to enlist at least one other family member who shares your observations to sit down with you. Because denial of the problem is so common in those with an eating disorder, she may not listen or tell you the truth immediately, but at least you know that you have done what you could. You might also suggest a book or looking at the Academy for Eating Disorders Web site, which has valuable information about these life threatening illnesses.

Ask the Expert

Each Friday, I will post a question answered by Dr. Kathryn J. Zerbe. The questions are part of an on-going coversation with Dr. Zerbe from the New York Times.

NY Times Bio
Dr. Zerbe is the author of “The Body Betrayed: A Deeper Understanding of Women, Eating Disorders, and Treatment” (Gurze Books, 1993) and “Integrated Treatment of Eating Disorders: Beyond the Body Betrayed” (Norton, 2008). She has had 25 years of experience working with individuals with eating disorders and directed the Eating Disorder Unit at the Menninger Clinic for five years. She also served on the American Psychiatric Association’s Work Group on Eating Disorders in 2000 and 2006.


Week One

I can’t believe I am actually reading something on my age group. I am 49 years old and have been suffering with bulimia/laxative abuse for more then 2 years now. After listening to a recorded talk by one of the directors at Remuda I was able to pinpoint what triggered my disorder. Sadly, that doesn’t help regarding treatment. I live in Philadelphia (home of Renfrew) but am the primary breadwinner in my family (which includes 2 daughters) which makes it impossible for me to seek intensive treatment (either outpatient or residential). Even with decent medical insurance, high copayments make it also impossible for me to seek even moderate therapy. Sometimes I can put 2 days together without suffering but more often then not it’s multiple x/day. Sorry, this is much more then a comment but I was so excited to read about my age group that I got carried away. Hope to read more in the future!
— Gayle

From Dr. Zerbe:
You might consider seeing if there is a support group for midlife women with eating disorders in your area. Be sure to also consult with your primary care doctor to make sure that a medical cause has been ruled out. There are also some excellent training programs in Philadelphia (the Beck Institute; the medical schools; and the Psychoanalytic Institute of Philadelphia) where trainees treat patients at lower cost. You might find some affordable treatment there to help you. There is also a chapter in each of my books, “The Body Betrayed” and “Beyond the Body Betrayed,” on anorexia and bulimia in middle age. Good luck!