Of Mice and Men: A Comparative Study Assessing Behavioral Indicators of Sugar Addiction in Mice and College Students

Binge eating is a maladaptive behavior associated with obesity and certain eating disorders. Numerous animal studies have shown that this bingeing behavior shares qualities with those of drug addiction. Furthermore, research in rodents has shown that this addictive behavior is also characterized by the same molecular and physiological characteristics that define drug addiction. The current study purposed to assess whether bingeing on sugar could lead to behavioral indicators of sugar dependence in mice as well as humans. The results show that bingeing on sugar did not increase addictive behavior in either mice or human participants. Instead, addictive behaviors appeared to be driven by increased sugar consumption