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A brief History of processed food addiction

Addictive Behavior Defined: Starting in the 1950's, definitions of addiction were made through descriptions of patterns of behaviors. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) [3] played a key role in the development of definitions of addictive behaviors through publication of addiction diagnostic criteria in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Committees of experts periodically revise the addiction diagnostic criteria over time. The criteria used in this self-test are adapted from the DSM-V published in 2013. 

Addictive Brain Functioning: Brain imaging technology introduced in the 1990's gave insight into the origins of addictive overeating. (4,5) With scanning technologies such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Topography (PET), addictions could be defined as the presence of specific dysfunctions in the brain. These dysfunctions suggest that over-activation of craving pathways in concert with suppression of inhibition and decision-making centers could explain addictive overeating that is otherwise difficult to understand. 

By combining the APA's work in addiction diagnostic criteria with neuro-research, the authors of this website were able to share an understanding of the "how and why" of food addictions.