Abstract:Sugar addiction, a paradigmatic example of food addiction, refers to the inability to rationally control the quantity and timing of consumption of specific high-sugar foods, manifesting addictive symptoms including binge eating, tolerance, and withdrawal. In recent years, sugar addiction has been linked to metabolic diseases and identified as a key cause in the rising incidence of type 2 diabetes, attracting significant attention from academia. Based on an introduction to the concept of sugar addiction, this article provides an elaboration on its mechanisms, encompassing the sweet taste signaling mechanism, the brain reward system, the energy homeostasis regulatory system, and the brain-gut-microbiome axis. Additionally, the influence of addictive components in food, genetic factors, sociodemographic factors, social environmental factors, and psychological factors on sugar addiction was analyzed. Building upon this foundation, the article proposes multi-faceted intervention strategies, such as behavior and lifestyle interventions, adjustments to health policies, pharmacotherapy, psychosocial interventions, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies. The proposed strategies aim to foster the creation of a healthy dietary environment and industry culture within China's food sector, and support the optimization of nutritional management and prevention and control strategies for diabetes within the healthcare system.
