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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Intermittent Binge-Intake Model in Mice

Intermittent Binge-Intake Model in Mice

Published on: January 10, 2025

Sugar and fat bingeing have notable differences in addictive-like behavior.

Nicole M Avena¹, Pedro Rada, Bartley G Hoebel

¹Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.

The Journal of Nutrition

|January 30, 2009

Summary

Bingeing on sugar or fat can trigger addictive-like behaviors by overstimulating the brain's dopamine system. Sweet tastes may drive addiction, while fats contribute more to obesity.

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Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

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A Novel Procedure for Evaluating the Reinforcing Properties of Tastants in Laboratory Rats: Operant Intraoral Self-administration

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Published on: February 6, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Behavioral Science
Nutritional Science

Background:

Nutrient ingestion affects physiology, brain function, and behavior.
Shared neural pathways, like the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system, are involved in reinforcing behaviors.
Excessive DA release from nutrient binges can lead to changes comparable to drug abuse.

Purpose of the Study:

To review animal model data on fat and sugar bingeing.
To explore the concept of "food addiction" from clinical and animal perspectives.
To compare behavioral and neurochemical alterations in sugar vs. fat bingeing.

Main Methods:

Review of animal models investigating fat and sugar bingeing.
Analysis of behavioral manifestations of addictive-like behaviors.
Comparison of alterations in dopamine and opioid systems.

Main Results:

Both fat and sugar bingeing activate the mesolimbic dopamine system.
Addictive-like behaviors and withdrawal syndromes are observed in animal models.
Sweet taste, independent of fat, appears more strongly linked to addictive behaviors.

Conclusions:

Nutrient bingeing can induce changes similar to drug addiction.
Fat may be primarily linked to excess body weight (obesity).
Sweet taste, particularly without fat, may be the main driver of addictive-like eating behaviors and withdrawal.