Impact of a history of caloric restriction and a frustration stress manipulation on binge-like eating behavior in female rats: Preclinical results

Medications, at present, play a limited role on eating disorders. Currently, only two drugs were approved by the Food and Drug Administration, fluoxetine and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, respectively, for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Meanwhile, eating disorders are a growing public health problem, and the pharmacological management is extremely important, in support of the recommended cognitive behavioral therapy. In this context, animal models are essential to facilitate the study of human conditions and validate potential therapies. In this chapter, we will describe a preclinical model of binge-like eating, triggered by yo-yo dieting and frustration stress on palatable food. It represents a tool to investigate the underlying behavior, physiological mechanisms and the involvement of neural circuitry on binge-like eating behavior with the final aim to develop pharmacological approaches. Corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor antagonists, orexin receptor type 1 antagonists, and A2A adenosine receptor agonists will be discussed as promising therapeutic treatments that may have clinical implications.