Fortuna, J. L. (2012). The obesity epidemic and food addiction: clinical similarities to drug dependence. J Psychoactive Drugs, 44(1), 56-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2012.662092
From the clinical review’s abstract: “Palatable foods have palliative properties and can be viewed as a form of self medication. elevated blood glucose levels catalyze the absorption of tryptophan and its subsequent conversion into the mood-elevating chemical serotonin.”