Studies have shown that cravings play an important role in food addiction. However, a key distinction between drug addiction and food addiction is that cravings for foods are widespread and often experienced by the general population. In contrast, cravings for substances like alcohol or nicotine are typically associated with a substance use disorder. Therefore, cravings shouldn’t automatically equate to addiction. Food cravings can be temporary and triggered by factors such as stress, hormonal changes (e.g., during the menstrual cycle, during menopause, or pregnancy), or exposure to enticing food marketing.[1] Further research is required to define the threshold for pathological food cravings and understand their role in the development of food addiction.
What are the main differences between food cravings and drug cravings?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Food cravings are common and can be triggered by various factors, unlike drug cravings, which are typically linked to substance use disorders. Additionally, food cravings are often temporary and do not necessarily indicate addiction, which highlights the need for further research to understand their role in food addiction.