Food Addiction Treatment

What is Food Addiction?

Just as people can become addicted to drugs and alcohol, they can also become addicted to food. Food addiction is a very real behavioral disorder characterized by the overconsumption of and chemical dependency on highly palatable foods, or those high in fat, sugar and sodium. Unfortunately, people who are addicted to food are viewed as lacking self-discipline or control, but this notion could not be more false. People become addicted to food through no fault of their own. The addiction to eating highly palatable foods is attributed to the way these foods activate the pleasure and reward system in the brain, very similar to the effects of highly addictive drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

The nature of this behavioral addiction causes victims to compulsively overindulge and experience a total loss of control over eating only to be followed by depression, shame, and self-loathing. Our culture, sadly, does not make it any easier for food addict victims. Food addicts are commonly perceived as overindulgent, lazy, and lacking willpower. The shame and stigma associated with overeating can make seeking food addiction treatment painfully difficult and embarrassing for victims, which is truly saddening and unfair. No one deserves to live this way. Treatment for food addiction is available.

Rosewood Centers welcomes all adolescents, men and women living with an eating disorder to get comprehensive care at our eating disorder treatment facility. We understand the complexity of this behavioral addiction and have designed treatment plans that aim to heal the root of food addiction – not just treat the symptoms. Our food addiction treatment model is innovative, effective and proven to treat the whole individual: body, mind, and spirit. We encourage everyone living with this disorder to seek professional diagnosis and treatment from an experienced and knowledgeable treatment facility. At Rosewood, overcoming food addiction can become a reality.

Defining Food Addiction

Food Addiction Versus Binge Eating

Food addiction and binge eating disorder are terms that are loosely used interchangeably, but refer to very different disorders. Food addiction refers to the biochemical dependency on foods specifically high in fat, sugar, and sodium, as these have highly addictive properties. The disorder is similar to binge eating, where people engage in frequent episodes of uncontrollable food consumption. The difference between food addiction and binge eating lies in a food addicts’ chemical dependency on specific foods. When food addicts cannot acquire highly palatable foods, they experience withdrawal symptoms such as intense physical craving, distortion of needs, and sometimes display manic tendencies. In some cases, the withdrawal effects could even cause food addict victims to lie or steal to satisfy craving.

The Chemical Dependency

Eating trigger foods causes a release of dopamine and serotonin in the brain that produces intense sensations of pleasure, just like that of a drug. This release in the brain’s reward system occurs immediately after consuming food, which, in turn, associates the act of eating to emotional well-being. Eventually, food addicts directly relate food to pleasure, comfort, and stability, despite any adverse consequences that may result. The pleasure signals activated by these foods can be so intense that they prevail over signals of satisfaction or fullness. People who become addicted to food will engage in frequent episodes of overeating and will find themselves spending time obsessing over food and anticipating the pleasure associated with eating.

Food Addiction & Obesity

Food addictions can contribute to obesity because of the increased calories an individual consumes. In many cases, this is true. However, eating disorders are not a sole contributor to obesity. There are other factors such as level of physical activity and genetics that determine one’s physical weight. In fact, there are several people with healthy weights who live with food addictions, but may increase their physical exercise to compensate for the extra calories or just have higher functioning metabolisms.