High intake of palatable food predicts binge-eating independent of susceptibility to obesity: an animal model of lean vs obese binge-eating and obesity with and without binge-eating

Abstract

Objective: To determine the stability of individual differences in non-nutritive 'junk' palatable food (PF) intake in rats; assess the relationship of these differences to binge-eating characteristics and susceptibility to obesity; and evaluate the practicality of using these differences to model binge-eating and obesity. Design: Binge-eating prone (BEP) and resistant (BER) groups were identified. Differential responses to stress, hunger, macronutrient-varied PFs, a diet-induced obesity (DIO) regimen and daily vs intermittent access to a PF þ chow diet, were assessed. Subjects: One hundred and twenty female Sprague-Dawley rats. Measurements: Reliability of intake patterns within rats; food intake and body weight after various challenges over acute (1, 2, 4 h), 24-h and 2-week periods. Results: Although BEP and BER rats did not differ in amount of chow consumed, BEPs consumed 450% more intermittent PF than BERs (Po0.001) and consistently so (a ¼ 0.86). BEPs suppressed chow but not PF intake when stressed, and ate as much when sated as when hungry. Conversely, BERs were more affected by stress and ate less PF, not chow, when stressed and were normally hyperphagic to energy deficit. BEP overeating generalized to other PFs varying in sucrose, fat and nutrition content. Half the rats in each group proved to be obesity prone after a no-choice high fat diet (DIO diet) but a continuous diet of PF þ chow normalized the BEPs high drive for PF. Conclusion: Greater intermittent intake of PF predicts binge-eating independent of susceptibility to weight gain. Daily fat consumption in a nutritious source (DIO-diet; analogous to a fatty meal) promoted overeating and weight gain but limiting fat to daily non-nutritive food (PF þ chow; analogous to a snack with a low fat meal), did not. The data offer an animal model of lean and obese binge-eating, and obesity with and without binge-eating that can be used to identify the unique physiology of these groups and henceforth suggest more specifically targeted treatments for binge-eating and obesity.

Opiates, overeating and obesity: a psychogenetic analysis

“…These associations are concordant with a body of research showing that for many individuals, foods high in fat and sugar tend to promote overeating and weight gain, both in humans and in animals, and that such foods are selectively preferred by obese individuals. 56 In addition, a recent study demonstrated that high intake of palatable food was a good predictor of binge eating in animals independent of their susceptibility to gain weight. 57 There is also evidence that satiety regulation of fat intake is less efficient than it is for other macronutrients, suggesting another mechanism whereby a fat preference contributes to overconsumption.…”

Appetite-related hormone levels in obese women with and without binge eating behavior

“…Eating frequency and type of nutrients in the meal are associated with metabolic changes 23,24 and glycemic homeostasis 25 . Therefore, the same food was offered on the experimental day to the participants, and also the same quantity of food, in order to avoid acute release of any appetite-related hormone.…”

Differential effects of the hypocretin 1 receptor antagonist SB 334867 on high-fat food self-administration and reinstatement of food seeking in rats

“…We chose this training schedule and these diet conditions because previous home-cage food consumption studies have shown that rats placed on a restricted diet and given intermittent access to palatable food develop binge-like eating behaviour (Colantuoni et al, 2002;Corwin and Buda-Levin, 2004;Boggiano et al, 2007;Figlewicz et al, 2007;Avena et al, 2008), and become hypersensitive to the effect of stress on palatable food intake (Hagan et al, 2002(Hagan et al, , 2003. We also chose our diet conditions based on two other considerations.…”