Sleep Disorder Drug 'Modafinil' can Help Food Addicts Lose Weight

Highlights

Drug to treat narcolepsy, a chronic sleep disorder may help food addicts lose weight, finds new study.
Impulsive behavior is a factor that contributes to food addiction.
The drug called Modafinil was found to significantly reduce the level of impulsiveness.

Obese and overweight people can benefit from a new study which claims that a drug used to treat sleep disorder could also reduce the impulse for food. //

Obesity is caused by a wide range of risk factors. Studies have linked obesity to a behavioral disorder such as lack of self-control. Many people who are overweight or obese are physically addicted to foods rich in fat and sugar.

Fast Food Addiction in Teenagers
Food addiction is a growing threat among teenagers. Find out how to combat the problem with preventive tips and strategies for overcoming food addiction.

‘A drug named Modafinil which is prescribed to treat sleep disorder was found to reduce food addiction and aid in weight loss.’

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When we consume tasty food, we get a powerful release of dopamine in the pleasure or reward section of the brain. But studies have shown that food addicts have a deficiency in a certain type of dopamine so that their sense of reward and pleasure is diminished. Thus they have to eat more to reach the same level of pleasure.

Sleep Disorder Drug to Fight Food Addiction

Ivo Vlaev, of Warwick Business School, plus Myutan Kulendran, Laura Wingfield, Colin Sugden, and Ara Darzi, of Imperial College London, have found that a drug to treat narcolepsy, called as Modafinil can reduce impulsivity and thus food addiction.

Food Addiction
Food addiction is the compulsive need to eat junk food that has a lot of carbohydrates, sugar, flour and other fatty substances. This can occur even when you are not hungry.

"We found Modafinil, which is already on the market, did reduce people's impulsive behavior," said Professor Vlaev.

"It has been shown to reduce impulsiveness in a variety of disorders such as alcohol dependence, schizophrenia, and ADHD. Food addicts suffer from the same neurobiological conditions, so we believe it will help food addicts as well, and our initial tests have backed up that theory.”

Food Addiction Linked to Impulsive Behavior
Impulsive behavior may actually cause people to develop an unhealthy relationship with food, just like alcohol and other drugs

In a randomized controlled trial, the scientists conducted a series of experiments. The study involved 60 men aged between 19 and 32 years. The control group was given a placebo - 20 Atomoxetine and 20 Modafinil.

The findings suggested that those who were prescribed Modafinil had a significantly reduced level of impulsiveness, whereas Atomoxetine produced no difference compared to the placebo group.

Obesity More Likely to Relate With Food Addiction Just Like Substance Addiction
Food craving was associated with different brain connectivity that stimulated overweight people to eat, which was similar to the craving for drugs in people.

This discovery could have important implications for people who are obese or overweight. Numerous studies have shown that most of the obese people are food addicts because they have an inability to control their impulsive action. Modafinil, can give them more control, which will help overweight people lose weight and so improve their health.

"Food addicts know they need to lose weight, but the desire for more food is overwhelming, leading to a spiral of depression that can lead to psychological issues as well as health problems."

Narcolepsy Drug ‘Modafinil’

Narcolepsy is a shift work disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. Modafinil is sold under a wide variety of brand names. For the current study, researchers tested two drugs - Modafinil and Atomoxetine. Both the drugs have been used for impulsive conditions such as ADHD.

"Modafinil was found to have an effect on impulsivity in healthy individuals and so would be able to have an even bigger effect on food addicts, who are lacking in certain types of dopamine," said Professor Vlaev.

"This drug could be a real help to those people struggling to control their desire for food even though they know they should lose weight.

"The drug improves self-control, which is a key factor in determining obesity, so our hypothesis is that this drug should help in treating the disease."

Tips to Fight Food Addiction

Mindful eating - Pay attention to what you eat, instead of eating mindlessly
Drink more water to feel full and get your mind off food cravings
Cope with the trigger - Go for a walk, meditate or exercise
Maintain a food diary
Get social support

Source-Medindia

Reference:

Myutan Kulendran, Laura R. Wingfield, Colin Sugden, Ara Darzi, Ivo Vlaev. Pharmacological manipulation of impulsivity: A randomized controlled trial. Personality and Individual Differences,(2016)DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2015.11.025