Is sugar addictive?
Marc Tittgemeyer leads the research group at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research and is a professor at the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne. Through his research, he has discovered how certain foods change the brain and why hunger is a mental issue.
"The term addiction is used in psychiatry as a clear diagnosis, so caution is advised when applying it to everyday behavior such as sugar consumption. Nevertheless, it has been shown that sugar fulfills some criteria of addiction. These include tolerance shift and craving, i.e., intense desire. This craving in particular resembles the behavior we know from substance-related addictions such as opiates. In both cases, heroin and sugar activate similar neural networks in the brain, the so-called opioid system, which is involved in processing pleasure and reward signals.
Of course, heroin and sugar are incomparable; the effects are completely different, yet there are similar dynamics in terms of cravings and behavioral patterns. Heroin addicts often consume the drug not just for the next hit, but to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Many people are familiar with the strong craving for sweets. If this craving is suppressed, unpleasant feelings arise that are reminiscent of withdrawal symptoms. While sugar withdrawal doesn't cause physical symptoms like caffeine, which often results in headaches, the psychological craving remains strong.
Sugar activates the same reward systems in the brain as other addictive substances. Combinations of sugar and fat, in particular, have a strong effect on the dopamine system. Studies show that regular consumption of very sweet or fatty foods shifts taste preferences. Those who become accustomed to less sweet foods also feel less of a need for them. Conversely, however, the more sugar is consumed, the greater the cravings.
Breaking away from it isn't easy, especially when sugar has already caused lasting damage to the body. Neurobiologically, it has been shown that brain metabolism is often altered in overweight people. This means that the unconscious signals that control appetite function differently than in people of normal weight. Impulse control decreases, and people with a higher body weight often display impulsive behavior when it comes to eating. The higher the body fat, the stronger the signals of cravings or lack of motivation, which in turn leads to more eating. Sweets and convenience foods are particularly tempting at this time because they are readily available.
Even though sugar isn't officially recognized as a substance with addictive potential in the medical sense, its consumption meets many criteria for addictive behavior. Especially in combination with fat, in cases of genetic predisposition, or impaired metabolism, a cycle of craving, consumption, and reward develops that is difficult to break.
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