The main distinction between a chemical addiction (e.g., drug addiction) and a behavioral addiction (e.g., gambling) lies in the fact that in the latter, individuals aren't addicted to a specific substance (e.g., nicotine, alcohol); instead, they are addicted to the behavior itself or to the emotions that arise from engaging in that behavior.[1]
Drug addiction has both a behavioral and chemical component; for instance, people addicted to smoking are addicted both to nicotine and to the act of smoking itself. However, one important difference is that the addictive nature and the neurological influence of addictive substances (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine) on the reward system are well established. In contrast, research still struggles to establish the addictive properties of any specific substances in food. This leads to the likelihood that behavioral factors hold more sway over chemical ones in food addiction and overeating. However, as this is still an ongoing debate, more studies are required to clarify the exact relationship between the behavioral and chemical components of food addiction.[2][1]