Are simple carbohydrates physiologically addictive?

Hammersley, Richard; Reid, Marie

Abstract

Sugar and other carbohydrates are among the things to which it is claimed people can become addicted. A plausible physiological mechanism has been put forward to explain 'carbohydrate addiction' and this meshes with the folk psychology of dieting. Review shows evidence for the physiological basis of 'carbohydrate addiction' to be weak compared to drug addictions. If 'carbohydrate addiction' is a genuine phenomena then it is probably a habitual dependence based on strong reinforcement, like gambling, rather than a substance-based one.

Citation

Hammersley, R., & Reid, M. (1997). Are simple carbohydrates physiologically addictive?. Addiction research & theory, 5(2), 145-160. https://doi.org/10.3109/16066359709005256

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jun 11, 2009
• Publication Date: 1997
• Deposit Date: Dec 5, 2020
• Journal: Addiction Research and Theory
• Print ISSN: 1606-6359
• Electronic ISSN: 1476-7392
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 145-160
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/16066359709005256
• Keywords: Sugar; Carbohydrate; Carbohydrate-craving; Addiction
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3621352
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/16066359709005256