You may overdose on potato chips or tortilla chips once in a
while, but would you consider yourself to be a food addict? The
answer is important, because it could be the key to determining
what course of action you need to take in order to lose weight.
A number of medical experts say that food addiction is
just as serious as nicotine or cocaine addiction—and can
potentially be just as deadly.
When you suffer from food addiction, you have an
overwhelming desire for a particular food. The desire is so
strong, in fact, that if you are unable to consume that food,
you suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, nausea,
and depression. Food addicts crave the comfort that a particular
food gives them. They also may engage in binge eating.
Their cravings for food may be both physical and psychological.
It should be pointed out that there are different varieties
of food addiction. For instance, there is compulsive
overeating, where an individual goes on eating binges
that can last several days. The addict may sometimes lose
weight, but tends to gain it back again. Symptoms include eating
quickly, compulsively eating alone, and eating when there is no
evidence of hunger.
Yet another form of addiction is bulimia, in which an
individual overeats, then purges either by vomiting or by taking
laxatives. Signs of this condition include isolating oneself
when eating, trying to consume huge portions of food rapidly,
and being preoccupied with one’s weight.
food addiction can also come in the form of anorexia,
where an individual attempts to starve oneself in order to
achieve an unrealistic weight. Anorexics tend to be 15 percent
below normal body weight and have a phobia about being fat. They
have difficulty eating with other people and appear to be
obsessed with weight. They may engage in ritualistic behavior
involving food and may suffer from depression.
The good news is that food addiction can be
successfully treated. This treatment can come in a variety of
forms. A food addict may work with a psychotherapist to develop
new ways to deal with food and his or her emotions. The
therapist might be able to identify the source of the
individual’s fear or anger—the reason behind the individual’s
addiction.
In the majority of cases, the psychologist will help the
individual to develop a treatment plan which spells out
expectations and goals, both for the short-term and the
long-term. In the most serious cases, an individual may have to
undergo in-patient treatment at a psychological facility.
Treatment often involves helping the individual to return to
healthy eating methods, dealing with the underlying emotional
causes of addiction, and learning effective coping techniques.
Food addicts often follow the tenets of the same kind of
12-step program used by alcoholics. This involves admitting
their powerlessness over food, their belief that they could be
restored to sanity, and an admission of their faults and
failings. In addition, food addicts often draw strength from
support groups made up of people who have similar difficulties
dealing with food. Just knowing that there are other people who
face the same challenges can be incredibly therapeutic.
It is unclear at this point whether food addiction is
a genetically-based illness. Certainly, however, there is
evidence of eating patterns being passed down from one
generation to the next. In fact, many food addicts may only seek
help after they have determined that their illness could
adversely affect their children.
It is entirely possible that a food addiction can
never be cured, that it can only be treated. In other words, the
recovery period for the addiction can last a lifetime. However,
one should never lose hope of beating a food addiction.
With patience and with time, individual addicts can learn the
behavioral skills which will enable them to keep their weight
under control. Of course, there will be times when individuals
will be tempted to indulge in sweets or excessive carbohydrates.
However, knowing the pain that they will undergo if they
continue their harmful eating habits could be just the incentive
they need to stay the course.
