Treatment of the sensory and motor components of urges to eat (eating addiction?): a mobile-health pilot study for obesity in young people.

Purpose: Compelling evidence indicates that an addictive process might contribute to overeating/obesity. We hypothesize that this process consists of two components: (a) a sensory addiction to the taste, texture, and temperature of food, and (b) a motor addiction to the actions of eating (e.g.

Treatment of child/adolescent obesity using the addiction model: a smartphone app pilot study.

Background: The aim of this study was to test a weight loss program for young people based on an addiction treatment approach.

Methods: A pilot study (n=43) was conducted of a 20-week child/adolescent obesity intervention based on an addiction treatment model (staged, incremental withdrawal from problem foods, snacking/grazing, and excessive amounts at meals) and implemented by a server-integrated smartphone app with health professional support. The primary outcome was standardized %overBMI measured at four time points.