Food Addiction

[Tammy]

My sister is a food addict. When we were younger, I would notice that she would eat whenever she is upset. I know now that she was an emotional eater back then.

But then, she started eating more and more, and it showed with the weight she gained. It came to a point when she didn't want to leave home and just stay at home to eat and eat. She quit her job, and spent her days eating.

Her boyfriend of eight years soon left her after quarrels and all that.

Her GP told her that she was a food addict and she has since sought help with a psychiatrist and we help her at home. Sometimes we also get in a fight, especially when we have to hide food that she likes to eat!

[MediaHound]

Well being addicted to food is not a good thing as much of the community here will probably attest to. A food addiction can ruin your life and its important that if you have this you seek help and break the addiction to food.
I hope things turn out ok for her and she regains her health.

[Racquel]

I never thought that food could cause an addiction? Is there such a thing as food addiction????

[PinkofHealth]

There are a lot of behavioral addictions now, like video game addiction, Internet/computer addiction, even gambling. But only gambling is recognized by the DSM-IV as a real psychological problem.

Nevertheless a food addiction can be as debilitating as any other type of addiction!

[Tammy]

I have heard of that too, and have heard of the moves by experts, clinicians, psychologists to have other forms of behavioral addiction included in an update to the DSM. But for the most part, you could use the symptoms of addiction to know for sure if you're addicted.

It is actually very straightforward. If eating (or gambling, or being online) is interfering with other aspects of your life so much that you neglect these, then you are addicted. For example, it seems that your sister really is a food addict. Because she neglected her work and her boyfriend because of her eating.

This is analogous to the video game addict who from being an A student failed at exams, or he doesn't want to go out and play baseball with his friends anymore just so he could spend more time with video games.

[MediaHound]

Very insightful Tammy, thanks!

[Eliondra]

thanks for that Tammy, I do know that the revisions for DSM-V are now including gambling, sex and pornography to the addictions list. No word on food though.

[Sleeve Pixie]

I never thought that food could cause an addiction? Is there such a thing as food addiction????

Food addiction is not a recognized addiction in the diagnostic and statistical manual, however, there is ample scientific research that shows carbs, sugar and chocolate interact with the same neuron receptors as opiates. So yes, food can be physically addicting. Also Caffiene is addicting which is found in many foods.

[oliviafoster2008]

A study conducted on food addiction was done in US on rats. They found that food such as salt, sugar and fat triggers the release of dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter in the brain. This in turn increases the urge to eat more and more. So yeah it can be said a kind of addiction. I hope best wishes for you sister and that she gets out of it soon.

[Dee Leshuz]

Check out OA and FA online...the fact that those organizations exist testify to the reality of food addiction and compulsive overeating.