What Looks Like a Sugar Addiction Might Be an Eating Disorder

By Emily Walker, AMFT, staff therapist

Have you ever felt a loss of control while eating sweets? Does it feel hard to stop eating? Do you feel ashamed of how much you’re eating? Has this caused you to wonder if you’re addicted to sugar?

It could be a sign of an eating disorder, not addiction. Read on to understand the real root of your cravings.

Origins of “Food Addiction”

The concept of food addiction is not a new one. The term was first suggested in the mid-1950s. At that time, the foods listed as most likely to be addictive included “corn, wheat, coffee, milk, eggs, potatoes, and other frequently eaten foods” (Westwater et al., 2016). Over time, the idea of food addiction evolved as diet culture started labeling simple carbohydrates and sugar as unhealthy or harmful foods. Subsequently, many experts, influencers, and businesses in the diet and wellness industries now tout sugar and carbohydrates as foods that can cause addictive-like feelings, most prominently a loss of control and a sense of intense cravings.

The idea of sugar addiction has received a lot of recent attention. The pain it can cause is immense. Yet it lacks a valid scientific explanation, despite the vast amount of “information” in the media about it. So, what is a myth, and what is the reality of sugar addiction?

Research on “Sugar Addiction”

Research on sugar addiction is limited. In some of the animal studies that have been done, results show that addictive-like behaviors only happen with limited, occasional access to sugar. When the rats are given full access to sugar, those addictive-like behaviors disappear. The results show how restriction and deprivation of foods create a compulsive feeling when eating. This can, in turn, lead to loss of control and perceived overeating. Most strikingly, this research does not show anything about sugar addiction. 

In the studies that have been conducted with human participants, the measure of addiction is based on the Yale Food Addiction Scale. This scale, however, is based on people’s self-reported feelings about food. Importantly, it does not include measures related to restriction and deprivation. What does this mean? The scale does not take into account a very tangible factor that causes the feelings of loss of control and guilt around overeating–restriction.

Debunking Common Arguments for Sugar Addiction

Sugar Causes Dopamine “Hits”

One of the common statements used as evidence for sugar addiction is that sugar lights up the same parts of the brain that are activated from ingesting an addictive drug. When a person uses an addictive drug, dopamine neurons fire in the brain and provide feelings of pleasure and reward. Some claim that sugar also activates dopamine neurons. However, upon closer examination of the research, it becomes clear that the increase in dopamine levels resulting from sugar intake is contingent upon dietary restrictions. Cycles of deprivation and intermittent access to sugar are what light up these dopamine pathways, not simply sugar intake.

Additionally, dopamine is not only released when we eat sugary foods or take addictive drugs. We get dopamine “hits” when we listen to our favorite music, get sunlight,  spend time with friends and loved ones, and engage in any pleasurable activity. These activities are not classified as addictive, so why is sugar?

Sugar Causes Cravings

Another argument is that sugar can have a pull strong enough to feel like an addiction. However, to truly understand why this may be happening, we need to examine the factors that could be contributing to these sugar cravings. 

1. When a body is starving, it will attempt to obtain the fastest form of energy available. All food, from vegetables to beef, is eventually metabolized. Some foods are converted into essential building blocks for tissue repair and growth. The body converts other foods into vital stores of fat to provide fuel. Simple carbohydrates and sugar get broken down into glucose the fastest out of all other types of food. And glucose is the ultimate source of energy. For hungry people, simple carbohydrates and sugar are the body’s first choice for fast access to energy sources necessary to keep the body functioning.
2. People sometimes describe having more intense sugar cravings when they’re feeling exhausted. Poor sleep or no sleep can increase our bodies’ energy requirements to keep us going throughout the day. This can act in a similar way to starvation–our bodies prompt us to consume foods that will quickly break down into usable energy.
3. Stress management. Stress is often described as a precursor to cravings for sugar. Research data indicate that cortisol, the hormone associated with stress, is correlated with an increase in ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates hunger. There is insufficient evidence to prove that cortisol causes an increase in ghrelin. However, this correlation is sufficient to suggest that stress can make us feel hungrier. And, not surprisingly, when our bodies are in a “starvation” state, they tend to seek out the fastest form of energy input.

How to Get Help for Your “Sugar Addiction”

All things considered, sugar addiction is an oversimplifying and pathologizing term. It is completely natural for our bodies to drive us towards foods that provide fast, reliable forms of energy. It is also completely natural for us to feel cravings and rewards when we have sugar or other restricted foods after periods of deprivation and starvation.

If you struggle with the uncomfortable or even painful feelings associated with “sugar addiction,” remember that you are not at fault and you are not alone. The dieting culture across many societies makes us susceptible to feeling addicted to food groups that are labeled “unhealthy.” It’s no wonder you feel out of control around sugar. But the good news is that help is available. And the solution is often different from what you’d expect. 

Get Help for Your Eating Disorder in California

If you or someone you know feels addicted to sugar or other foods, contact EDTLA. Our experienced eating disorder clinicians can help guide you toward a lifetime of food freedom.

Sources

Avena NM, Rada P, Hoebel BG. Evidence for sugar addiction: behavioral and neurochemical effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2008;32(1):20-39. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2007.04.019. Epub 2007 May 18.

Azzam, I., Gilad, S., Limor, R., Stern, N., & Greenman, Y. (2017). Ghrelin stimulation by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation depends on increasing cortisol levels. Endocrine Connections, 6(8), 847–855.

Meule, A. (2015). Back by popular demand: A narrative review on the history of food addiction research. Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 88(3), 295–302.

Piccinni, A., Marazziti, D., Veltri, A., & Dell’Osso, L. (2021). Food addiction and psychiatric comorbidities: A review of current evidence. Eating and Weight Disorders, 26(4), 1049–1056.

Vasiliu, O. (2022). Current status of evidence for a new diagnosis: Food addiction—A literature review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 824936.

Westwater, M. L., Fletcher, P. C., & Ziauddeen, H. (2016). Sugar addiction: The state of the science. European Journal of Nutrition, 55(Suppl 2), 55–69.