Food Addiction

In the U.S. there are over 4 million adults with an addiction to food. Add to that the ever growing number of adolescents with eating problems and the unhealthy views and eating habits of eating shared by so many others, and you have what is obviously a major problem. The most common types of food addiction are binge eating, bulimia, and anorexia.  These food addiction disorders and treatment for them are discussed below.

A food addiction is more than just eating unhealthy foods and being overweight.  If you have an addiction to food you will typically display an obsession with food and eating, a preoccupation with sources of food you associate with pleasure and comfort, a compulsive and circular pattern of eating behavior, and you lack the ability to stop your abusing eating behavior.

Symptoms of a food addiction include the following:

• Having a preoccupation with your body, body weight and the food you eat
• Eating to relieve worry, stress, anxiety, or depression.
• Continuing to eat after feeling you have eaten too much
• Feeling depressed, worried, and becoming anxious while eating
• Eating too fast and feeling guilty when you eat
• Eating alone due to shame and embarrassment
• Having a history of weight fluctuations, unsuccessful diets, and binging after a diet
• Withdrawal from activities and eating alone because of embarrassment about eating

There are several types of food addiction, each resulting in significant emotional and physical problems.  The most common food addictions are discussed below.

Binge eating or compulsive eating

If you suffer from binge eating or compulsive eating you have episodes of uncontrolled eating.  You may eat much more quickly than is normal and once you are full you continue to eat.  Typically your binging may be followed by feelings of guilt or depression and feelings of worthlessness.  You may eat when you are not hungry, spend significant time thinking about food and eating, and you may even fantasize about eating. Compulsive eaters typically make many attempts at losing weight but compulsive overeating almost always leads to weight gain and obesity. Fluctuations in weight and medical complications are common.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is a condition where the binge eating or compulsive eating is followed by purging behaviors using laxatives, enemas or by vomiting.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is a food addiction where the person is 15% or more below normal body weight, has an intense fear of being fat, and believes that they are fat even when it is obvious to any objective observer that they are underweight.  A person with anorexia may also engage in other forms of purging behaviors, including vomiting, use of laxatives and enemas, and excessive exercise in order to maintain their low body weight.  Anorexia can have devastating impact on the person's body and can be fatal.

There is no one cause to explain food addiction but we know that there is a significant emotional component to all food addictions.  While each person's addiction is unique, the great majority of food addicts have feelings of guilt, shame and depression and have low self esteem. 

Typically, compulsive overeating begins in childhood when eating habits are developed and when the food addict fails to learn healthy ways to deal with stress but instead learns to turn to food to deal with stress and pain. Although a food addict may try to overcome their weight gains through dieting, this typically is not successful.  Unless the emotional reasons for the food addiction and the negative behavior patterns are explored and modified and a healthy relationship with food is developed, the food addict frequently finds they are in a never ending cycle of dieting and then overeating. 

Binge eating, compulsive eating, and bulimia are treatable with traditional methods of individual psychotherapy, nutritional and medical counseling, group psychotherapy, self- help and spiritual programs such as Overeaters Anonymous and Food Addicts Anonymous. Anorexia often requires more intensive treatment including careful monitoring of the person's physical condition and the use of medication.

In helping clients, I have found that the treatment for eating problems needs to focus on establishing healthy eating patterns, the reestablishment of a healthy body weight, identifying and treating emotional issues, developing effective coping strategies to assist the client in dealing with stress and anxiety, and providing support and guidance for maintenance and long-term recovery.

For more information about food addiction or other eating problems, please click on the linked websites listed below.

"If you really want help dealing with your feelings and emotions, changing your behavior, and improving your life, I will be happy to help you.  I am available almost any time and any place.  You can call me directly and there is no cost or obligation for the initial telephone consultation.  Or you can reach me by email.  I look forward to the possibility of helping you to improve your life."   Dr. Vince Berger