Psychological and physiological characteristics of sweet food "addiction"

Drug addicts in general can be distinguished from nonaddicts by their affec tive and physiological and craving responses to drug-related cues. The purp ose oi this study was to examine similar affective, physiological, and beha vioral variables in chocolate "addicts" and control subjects. Method: Sixte en addicts and 75 control subjects took part in two laboratory experiments in which their heart rate, salivation, and self-reported responses were mea sured. Results: In the presence of external chocolate cues, chocolate addic ts were more aroused, reported greater cravings, experienced more negative affect, and also ate more chocolate than control subjects. Self-report meas ures on eating attitudes and behavior, body image, and depression confirmed that a relationship exists between "chocolate addiction" and problem eatin g. Chocolate addicts showed more aberrant eating behaviors and attitudes th an controls, and were also significantly more depressed. Discussion: Chocol ate addicts may be considered to be a parallel with addicts generally, beca use they differ from controls in craving for chocolate, eating behavior, an d psychopathology (in respect of eating and affect). (C) 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.