Considering Food Addiction Through a Cultural Lens

AbstractPurpose of ReviewResearch suggests that cultural factors influence eating behaviors; however, little is known about the relationship between food addiction and culture. This narrative review aimed to (i) review theoretically related work on the relationship between sociocultural demographic variables, food cravings, and eating disorders; (ii) review the available literature assessing cultural aspects of food addiction, specifically the rates of food addiction across the globe and notable differences in relevant sociodemographic variables: race, ethnicity, gender, and acculturation level; (iii) discuss the potential impact of culture on the current understanding of food addiction and future research directions emphasizing the inclusion of sociocultural variables.Recent FindingsPreliminary data suggest that food addiction symptoms occur cross-culturally and that there may be significant differences between sociodemographic groups. Issues related to adequate lexicalization of concepts central to food addiction (e.g., craving, addiction) and global variations in eating culture and presentation of similar constructs (e.g., binge-eating) contribute to questions raised and identify avenues for further research.SummaryMultidimensional cultural assessment is called for to characterize food addiction among diverse groups and improve our understanding of the etiology, maintenance, and sequelae of food addiction cross-culturally.
Source: Current Addiction Reports - Category: Addiction Source Type: research