Food addiction is a debated concept; it is characterized by compulsive reward-seeking behaviors related to food, particularly highly palatable processed foods, despite negative consequences. Although it shares similarities with drug dependence in terms of behavioral and neurobiological responses, it is not formally recognized as a psychological disorder in major diagnostic manuals.

People with food addiction struggle to control their intake of specific (often energy-dense) foods and continue to eat despite feeling full and experiencing negative effects on their health and daily life. They may also invest significant time and resources into their eating habits and experience intense cravings similar to those observed in substance use disorders.

Food addiction is diagnosed using the Yale Food Addiction Scale, which consists of 35 self-reported questions and requires individuals to meet 2 or more of the 11 criteria while experiencing significant distress. An alternative tool, the Addiction-like Eating Behavior Scale, assesses food addiction behaviorally; there are concerns about overlaps with other eating disorders and the potential misdiagnosis of individuals who perceive themselves as food addicts.

Although food addiction is not officially recognized as a medical disorder, treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and certain medications like naltrexone/bupropion or semaglutide show potential for addressing it, though research on their efficacy is limited. Additionally, bariatric surgery has been associated with reduced food addiction scores in individuals with obesity.

One trial studied the effects of a specific probiotic on food addiction in participants with obesity who had undergone weight-loss surgery; one year later, the participants who received the probiotic maintained lower food addiction and binge eating scores than the participants who received a placebo. However, the study had limitations; for example, the probiotics were assessed only after surgery, and changes in gut microbiota were not analyzed.

Diet plays a crucial role in food addiction, and studies indicate that a diet that is high in processed, energy-dense foods can lead to addictive-like eating behaviors. A specific study found that although participants with food addiction had higher cravings initially, the condition did not significantly affect weight loss outcomes after a weight-loss intervention.

Abstinence-based 12-step programs, which are adapted from those for alcoholism, are available for individuals with food addiction and focus on abstaining from specific ingredients rather than food itself. However, there is limited evidence to support their effectiveness for food addiction.

The exact cause of food addiction is unknown, but it is believed to involve similar brain pathways as drug addiction and is influenced by factors such as dopamine receptor regulation, the endocannabinoid system, and emotional coping mechanisms. Additionally, conditions like obesity and a disrupted gut-brain axis may contribute to heightened responses to high-calorie foods, thus leading to overeating.