Food and addiction among the ageing population

• Obesity among the elderly is a growing public health concern.
• There is evidence to suggest that, in some, consumption of highly palatable foods may lead to addiction-like behaviors.
• It would be beneficial to explore the food addiction hypothesis among older samples to better understand and potentially treat this issue, especially as it may contribute to rates of overweight and obesity in this age cohort.

Obesity among the elderly is a growing public health concern. Among the various factors that may contribute to the current rates of obesity is the rewarding aspect of highly palatable foods and beverages, which may lead to overconsumption and excess caloric intake. The present review describes recent research supporting the hypothesis that, for some individuals, the consumption these highly palatable foods and beverages may lead to the development of addictive-like behaviors. In particular, the authors consider the relevance of this hypothesis to the ageing population.