The increasing worldwide prevalence of obesity is partially related to the ready availability of
highly palatable foods which increases the incidence of hedonic, non-homeostatic feeding.
The “food addiction” hypothesis postulates that exposure to these foods alters the brain's
reward circuitry, driving an addiction-like behavioural phenotype of compulsive overeating.
This review highlights recent evidence that examines changes in the mesolimbic
dopaminergic circuit, the primary component of the reward system, associated with exposure …