Parents have seen it before: children stashing snack wrappers under their beds or sneaking an extra candy bar. However, recent science suggests this might be more than just youthful mischief.
The Thin Line: Craving Versus Addiction
The occasional craving for a sweet or salty snack is familiar to many. But when does that urge cross into addiction? A comprehensive review of 281 global studies, published in The British Medical Journal, suggests that the line might be finer than we think.The research used the Yale Food Addiction Scale, developed in 2009, drawing parallels between criteria for substance abuse and food addiction. This tool helps ascertain whether one’s relationship with foods, such as pizza and ice cream, can indeed be classified as an addiction.
