Overeating and obesity are on the rise in both the United States and in other countries around the world, despite public health warnings, the availability of diet books, and the stigma associated with excess weight. Recent research shows that excess food intake is, in part, driven by the pleasure derived from the palatability, or pleasurable taste, of food. While many books focus on need-based eating, the psychobiological factors of pleasure-driven excessive food intake are rarely considered. In Hedonic Eating, Dr. Nicole M. Avena and an expert team of contributors explore the behavioral, biological, and social rewards of eating in our current world saturated with hyper-palatable food. Hedonic Eating: How the Pleasure of Food Affects Our Brains and Behavior m II appeal to scientists, medical doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, counselors, and students taking specialized courses that cover appetite. It will also appeal to the general public interested in learning more about topics, including brain reward-related mechanisms associated with food intake, eating behaviors resulting from these changes in the brain, obesity and overeating, and science-based approaches to Combat the changing landscape of our food environment.

Book jacket.