We’ve all heard about drug and alcohol addiction, even shopping and internet addiction. Some people say they’re addicted to chocolate or coffee... but is there really such a thing as being addicted to food?
Psychologist Dr Suzy Green says, “There are definitely people who rely on food as a major source of comfort and/or use it to reduce negative emotions like anger, sadness and fear.”
Are sugar and fat addictive?
Some research into food addiction suggests that people who believe they are addicted to food show similar characteristics to people who are addicted to drugs.
Sugar and fat stimulate the release of natural opioids in the brain, and could have a similar effect to addictive drugs such as heroin according to John Hoebel, a psychologist at Princeton University in the United States.
Dr Hoebel conducted research in which rats were fed a high-sugar diet. When their high-sugar diet stopped, the rats showed signs of anxiety and other symptoms which are similar to those seen in people withdrawing from nicotine and morphine.
"The implication is that some animals – and by extension some people – can become overly dependent upon sweet food," Dr Hoebel said. In other words, a food addict could be looking for the feeling or ‘hit’ that comes from the release of brain chemicals brought on by eating certain foods or types of foods.
We all reward ourselves with treats from time to time, but if you eat for comfort too often your brain can become trained to recognise certain foods as an easy way to improve your mood.
Compulsive eating
Compulsive overeaters are people who eat too much, too often and inappropriately. They’ll often plan a binge session and overeat by themselves in secret. Over time, uncontrolled eating can feel normal, because it becomes a regular part of a person’s life.
An example is Nadia. She struggles with overeating and confesses to a chocolate addiction. She says, “Whenever I feel stressed or depressed, I reach for something sweet. I have plenty of it stored around the house, but not where my husband and kids can see it. When I am in the middle of an eating session, I don’t think about what I am putting into my body. I just carry on and on until I feel bloated and uncomfortable. Afterwards, I look at all the empty wrappers and I feel disgusted at my lack of control. I feel angry and depressed, but I know I will do it again.”
Nadia has just started a course of treatment with a trained psychologist and hopes to get to the root of her problems and tackle her behaviour.
Are you a food addict?
Does Nadia’s story sound familiar? Do you have similar feelings and behaviours? Ask yourself:
- Do you eat when you're not hungry?
- Do you think about food constantly?
- Have you ever wanted to stop eating and found you just couldn't?
- Do you fast or severely restrict your food intake?
- Do you binge and then vomit, exercise or use laxatives?
- Do you exercise too much to control your weight?
- Do you eat differently in private than you would in front of others?
- Are your family/friends/doctor concerned about your eating habits or weight?
- Do you often feel guilty or ashamed about what you've eaten?
- Do you think food is a problem for you?
- Have you ever felt angry when someone ate food you saved for yourself?
- Do you overeat more than twice a week?
- Do you seek out companions who eat the way you do?
- Do you eat and keep eating to make yourself feel better?
- Is your eating or your weight affecting your way of life, your relationships or your work?
If you answered ‘yes’ to a number of these questions and/if you have associated physical symptoms such as headaches, irritability, difficulty in sleeping, mood swings and depression, you might have a problem with food.
Getting help
If you suspect you are addicted to food or have unhealthy eating behaviours, you must get specialised help. Speak to your doctor.
Psychologist Dr Suzy Green suggests, “Instead of food, try to identify other ways to comfort yourself. Try talking or laughing with a friend on the phone. Your doctor might refer you to a psychologist who can help you understand your problems and offer practical solutions for getting your behaviour under control.”
Regain control
If you don’t feel you have a major problem with food addiction, but do want better control over your eating behaviours:
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Use the comments section of your diary to track your mood. This helps to pinpoint situations that can cause cravings.
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Try exercise. It helps to focus your mind away from food and also boosts feel-good endorphins.
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Take up relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation. These can leave you feeling calmer and happier with yourself.
Although breaking a food addiction is tough, it is possible. If you think you have a problem, make sure you seek help.