What is Food Addiction?
Food addiction is a set of uncontrollable behavioral patterns, where an individual consumes an excessive amount of food or eats even though they are not hungry. This kind of compulsion still occurs even in the face of health risks, such as nausea from gorging, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, poor physical functioning, or depression.
Food addiction has similar lures as substance addiction. Foods that are high in fat or foods that contain large amounts of sugar can provide a similar flood of euphoric feelings when consumed. Food addicts might feel a rush of endorphins, serotonin, or dopamine when consuming food with excessive sweeteners or other unhealthy, high fat foods.
An addiction provides a temporary reprieve from dealing with larger, more pressing issues. Food may offer fleeting comfort, but it often results in additional problems that are increasingly dangerous.
For instance, people’s brains and bodies may become conditioned to use food to mask underlying issues like depression, paralyzing anxiety, low self-esteem, conflicts, or trauma. The longer food is utilized as a coping mechanism, the more tolerance to a certain quantity builds. This can lead to a growing and an increased amount of food needed to provide satiation or to feel that quick reward, thus creating a life-threatening addiction.
Addiction is Not a Choice
“While food addiction is not the causal agent of all obesity,” food addiction and obesity are often linked at least partially, if not more. And studies conducted, have shown that obesity has the ability to cause severe shifts in behavior. The brain and behavioral changes that result from food addiction have similar parallels to the brain changes found in drug or alcohol addicts.
Food addiction is recognized by The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), and is seen through the same lens as substance addiction, because it is a brain disorder. Recovery centers, physicians, and mental health professionals have to use treatment approaches that address brain dysfunction, in order to see positive results in the patient.
According to Dr. Raju Hajela, a chair on the ASAM committee that oversaw the creation of the new definition of addiction, he shared that “the disease creates distortion in thinking, feelings and perceptions, which drive people to behave in ways that are not understandable to others around them. Simply put, addiction is not a choice. Addictive behaviors are a manifestation of the disease, not a cause.” With food addiction, decreasing portion sizes or increasing physical activity alone cannot reverse the damages of addiction, nor can it cure addiction. Moderation in food consumption is not a possibility without professional and medical treatment to address cause.
Causes of Food Addiction
People that are often susceptible to food addiction are those with existing eating disorders, like bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder. Additionally, a personal history with substance abuse or a history of trauma, like child abuse or sexual assault, is often linked to food addiction.
Women with PTSD and resulting food addiction may have experienced trauma like child abuse, sexual abuse, an accident, or the loss of a family member. Surveys show that, “a third of American women experienced some form of physical or sexual abuse before they reached 18 years of age,” which may form associations to food addiction, as a type of unhealthy coping.
Studies also show that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often found in women suffering from food addiction. They may use food to alleviate symptoms from PTSD in the same way that someone might use drugs or alcohol to tamp down distress or pain. According to physiology professor, Mary Dallman, PhD, trauma symptoms resulting from physical abuse in childhood showed the strongest connections with food addiction. “Earlier studies have shown that there is indeed a relationship between addictive eating and trauma.”
Witnessing the violent death of an individual was the most frequent answer and cited as the most traumatic and damaging. The second most frequent answer was enduring the experience of a miscarriage or stillbirth. While the scale and severity may vary, food addiction and trauma are linked.
Treatment for Food Addiction
In order for there to be successful treatment for food addiction, patients need to be aware of the potential connections between food addiction, trauma, personal history, and resulting mental illnesses. Physicians, mental health clinicians, and addiction experts will often use treatment methods to get patients to replace their food consumption urges with healthier and more sustainable methods. Outlets like regular therapy, twelve-step meetings, journaling, engaging in an outdoor activity, or starting a wellness activity are often promoted. In intensive recovery programs, a combination of all solutions is often recommended, with variations based on need.
Since food addiction is often found in people suffering from an eating disorder, in-patient treatment and recovery centers may be needed due to health risks. Bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder are self-harming behaviors, which may cause irreversible physical damage or may be fatal, if left untreated.
Residential, in-patient programs can help recovering food addicts learn how to pinpoint their triggers, address underlying causes, and confront mental illness. Centers work with skilled professionals who are experienced with treating co-occurring illnesses and addiction. They will provide the tools and support needed to heal your disorder.
Treatment is the place to break through obstacles without turning to food. Programs use different approaches to help the individual find the best solution for them. Some offer more individualized options and some encourage more group-oriented healing methods, like group therapy and twelve-step meetings. With food addiction, hearing others’ struggles with managing food consumption is a powerful learning tool. It also creates a community of support from recovering peers. Body image, societal pressure, cultural influences, and an inability to cope with pain are all commonalities linked to food addiction and eating disorders. These are shared in group therapy scenarios.
Understanding Food Addiction
For severe food addictions, residential recovery options may be helpful for lasting results. Staff may provide careful monitoring of food consumption, while providing a specifically tailored treatment plan in the form of therapy, nutritional counseling, or peer support. Goals are created collaboratively with patients to create a healthy relationship with food, so that it no longer overpowers your life. Recovery is the time to understand the inner workings of your food addiction. Start the healing process today.
