Is food addiction real?
Treating food addiction, a mental illness associated with anxiety and trauma, requires treating both mind and body
By Susan McClelland
Amidst the everyday chaos of life, food is one of the simplest comforts. But for compulsive eaters, food is an easily accessible drug used in an attempt to fill a constant void. Associated with anxiety and trauma, food addiction is about more than monitoring what you eat, and can have serious health effects.
"Compulsive eating is not about a lack of willpower or knowledge of what to eat," says Tauri Hall, a counsellor with the Hopewell eating disorder resource centre in Ottawa. "It's typically a symptom of severe anxiety, diminished self-esteem or unresolved trauma. People with this disorder focus on diets and weight loss, but the underlying issues are not resolved."
Untreated, adds Diana Norton, also a counsellor with Hopewell, food addiction doesn't go away. "If you look closely, someone with disordered eating has likely substituted food as a vice to help deal with something else, as others use overwork, alcohol or smoking."
An individual suffering from binge eating, a characteristic of compulsive eating, engages in frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating, often followed by periods of depression and guilt. Many binge eaters are overweight or obese. Obesity can lead to an array of health issues including type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.
- The best treatment involves both mind and body. Here are some options:
- • Behaviour modification or psychotherapy counselling
- • A good nutritionist and a regular exercise routine
- • Meditation, yoga or an alternative spiritual practice to help manage stress
- • Medication (if determined helpful by a doctor)
"Our childhood experiences, including trauma, can create deficits in our ability to cope with the challenges of life," says Hall. "The best way to avoid problems in your children is to help them express feelings. Allow them to have a voice, to know it's natural to be angry, sad or hurt. Then help them express it in a healthy way, not by building negative habits."
This article was originally titled "What is this Disorder?" in the May 2011 issue of Best Health. Subscribe today to get the full Best Health experience–and never miss an issue!–and make sure to check out what's new in the latest issue of Best Health.
Best Health Magazine, May 2011
Food Addiction is a very serious and progress disease and should not be taken lightly. If you are struggling with food addiction there is a way out and there is help. A dear friend who had struggled with food addiction his whole life and has been a recovering food addict for the past 16 years handed me a book called FOOD ADDICTION: The Body Knows by Kay Shepard M.A. It will change your life.... it's changed mine... Also you can find online information and help http://www.foodaddicts.org/ Which is a website for Recovering Food Addicts. There is no shame in admitting there is a problem and then getting the proper help. All its takes is the first step. It will surprise you how many people today struggle with this addiction...do not be afraid your not alone.
All the best,
Val ( A recovering food addict ) :)
Food is my drug of choice. I had an irriational fear of not having enough food. So I overate to help with the anxiety. Then my doctor prescribe dexadrine for the anxiety and it helped immensely. The problem is I was masking the anxiety and not getting rid of it. So my last ditch effort was hypnotheraphy. I tried ever diet and always lost weight but would gain it right back. I had anxiety when I didn't allow myself to eat sugar, overeat or when I lost weight. The weight was like a security blanket to me. I really wanted to lose the weight but when I did I felt naked without it. I believe that food addiction is real but not a disease like alcolholism. I went for three sessions to a hypnotist and now my anxiety is gone. The hypnotist said that anxiety is the easiest to cure. I have now lost 10 lbs and kept it off and no longer have the desire to overeat or do I crave sugar either. I didn't believe in hypnotists but I do now. I have also seen many psychologists re my overeating and they have not been able to help with this problem. The hypnotist says that the anxiety is gone forever and I feel that this is very true. Good Luck to you all!
Sometimes it is a combination of factors for example eating too fast, some have not learned to prepare heathly meals and grab fast foods and the easiest to grab and quickest available.educating ourselves to take our 1/2 hour mealtime and create healthy choices beforehand that we will eat less and keep some of that mealtime to relax and enjoy our food and maybe take a walk daily after mealtime to avoid overindulgenc which is unhealthy. Smaller proportions prevent bigger problems.water is important because our bodies require water to transport our food. Our bodies need water for the kidneys and we do not want to stuff our bodies with unnecessary calories which will only eventually hurt our bodies when the organs become abused overworked and shut down. We must treat our bodies with care and respect and kindnessand gentleness giving it the best for our health to have quality of life all our life.