From binge eating to gaming: When everyday behaviors become addictions
· Medical Xpressedited by Swati Mestri, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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When people think about addiction, they usually think about alcohol, drugs or gambling-related problems, but a major international study suggests some everyday behaviors, including excessive gaming, binge eating and compulsive sexual behavior, can share many of the same characteristics as recognized addictions.
One of the world's most comprehensive reviews of behavioral addictions has found gaming disorder is 98.9% similar to gambling disorder, sharing many of the same risk factors, warning signs and underlying characteristics. Binge-eating disorder and compulsive sexual behavior disorder also showed a high degree of overlap.
Published in European Psychiatry, the study examined almost 250 systematic reviews and meta-analyses that compared gambling disorder with alcohol use disorder and six behavioral addictions.
Researchers found gaming disorder showed the strongest similarity to gambling disorder, followed by compulsive sexual behavior disorder and binge-eating disorder.
The findings add to growing evidence that addiction is not limited to substances and gambling, which may help people recognize when a behavior has become harmful and seek support earlier.
Behaviors such as gaming, eating, shopping and work are part of everyday life, which can make it harder to identify when patterns become unhealthy or difficult to control.
Zsolt Demetrovics, an expert in addictive behaviors and Matthew Flinders Professor in Mental Health and Wellbeing, says the research highlights a need to look beyond substances when thinking about addiction.
"People often associate addiction with alcohol or drugs, but our findings show that certain behaviors can share many of the same underlying characteristics," says Demetrovics, from Flinders' College of Human Sciences and Culture and director of Flinders' Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing (FIMHWell).
"Addiction is not defined by a substance alone. In some cases, behaviors can become compulsive and difficult to control and can continue despite causing harm.
"This is important because many people who experience these problems may not recognize them as potential addictions. As a result, they may not seek help until the effects on their health, relationships, finances or daily life become severe."
The researchers used gambling disorder, one of the most extensively studied behavioral addictions, as a benchmark, then compared it with alcohol use disorder and six commonly discussed behavioral addictions.
Across 75 factors linked to addiction, including mental health, personality traits, emotional regulation, cognition and brain function, they found striking similarities between many of the conditions.
Flinders' senior research fellow in psychology, Dr. Andrea Czakó, says the findings have important implications for individuals, families and health professionals.
"Many people struggle with behaviors they feel ashamed of, or simply do not recognize as a potential addiction," says Czakó.
"Understanding that these difficulties may share common underlying mechanisms can help people seek support earlier and help health professionals respond more effectively."
The researchers say better recognition of behavioral addictions could reduce stigma, improve access to care and help people get support before significant harm occurs.
The pattern can look remarkably similar to more traditionally recognized addictions—whether it is someone losing sleep and damaging relationships because they cannot stop gaming, repeatedly binge eating despite serious health impacts, spending beyond their means through uncontrollable shopping or engaging in sexual behaviors that begin to affect their well-being.
"When people understand that these behaviors can involve the same loss of control seen in other addictions, it becomes easier to have open conversations and connect people with support," says Demetrovics.
"By better understanding behavioral addictions, families, health professionals and individuals may be more likely to identify problems earlier, start conversations sooner and access appropriate support before significant harm occurs."
More information
Clément Vansteene et al, Concordance between gambling disorder, alcohol use disorder, and other behavioural addictions provides evidence for a comprehensive approach to addictive behaviours: A multiple systematic review analysis, European Psychiatry (2026). DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2026.12249
Key medical concepts
Binge-Eating DisorderAlcohol use disorder
Clinical categories
PsychiatryPsychology & Mental health Provided by Flinders University Who's behind this story?
Swati Mestri
Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
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