May 30, 2023 · There’s an increasing body of research that tells us excess sugar could be as addictive as some street drugs and have similar effects on the brain. “Addiction is a strong word,” says Dr. Alan...

Sep 18, 2013 · Research says that our brains are hardwired for pleasure and sugar works like many addictive drugs. So, are we sugar fiends? Here’s something to think about the next time you’re craving...

Mar 18, 2025 · Frank Hu is the Chair of the Department of Nutrition and the Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.. This is a heavily debated topic. Alcohol, nicotine, and opiates are all classified as addictive substances based on strict clinical criteria, and although sugar has been shown to increase cravings and compulsive eating behaviors ...

“Food addiction” seems plausible because brain pathways that evolved to respond to natural rewards are also activated by addictive drugs. Sugar is noteworthy as a substance that releases opioids and dopamine and thus might be expected to have addictive potential. This review summarizes evidence of sugar dependence in an animal model.

Oct 28, 2013 · Some studies claim to find junk food as addictive as drugs, but experts say that what actually determines the addictive nature of a substance, and whether an individual becomes addicted, is...

In the ongoing debate surrounding the question "is sugar a drug?", the addictive properties of sugar play a significant role. From neuronal activation by popular foods like Oreo cookies to similarities between sugar and cocaine rewards, we delve into the science behind sugar's potential addictive nature.

Mar 24, 2025 · The difficulty with defining sugar as addictive is that eating, including the eating of sugar, is a biological necessity, unlike alcohol, nicotine, or opioids. DSM-5 could provide a definitional workaround for sugar’s biological necessity, focusing solely on behavior, underlying physiologic drives, or desires as a sub-category of the DSM’s ...

Recent findings: Available evidence in humans shows that sugar and sweetness can induce reward and craving that are comparable in magnitude to those induced by addictive drugs.

You’re probably consuming more sugar per day than experts would recommend. Unless you’re serious about watching what you eat (although counting calories alone can still lead to over-consumption of sugar) or have struggled with your sweet tooth in the past, the WHO’s sugar recommendations might seem absurdly low.

Sep 16, 2019 · While sugar addiction does not perfectly fit into models of other substance abuse, there is more than adequate evidence to classify sugar as a drug. It is easily abused, significantly harmful to health, has a high risk for dependency, and is associated with craving and withdrawal.