Understanding and Treating Food Addiction
Individuals battling food addiction typically consume vast amounts of food even though they are not physically hungry. More often than not, this lack of control over one’s food intake is a way to cope with stress, low self-esteem, and negative thoughts.
Regardless of its cause, overeating poses a serious danger to a person’s wellbeing and health, leading to a wide range of associated issues.
What Happens if Food Addiction is Ignored?
Disregarding obvious signs of food addiction and not seeking professional assistance may result in a barrage of adverse issues, including:
- The development of nervosa, bulimia, and other health issues which
are connected to disordered eating - Anxiety
- Extreme sense of shame and isolation
- Depression
- Problems in maintaining close interpersonal relationships
- Obesity, which may lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes,
cardiovascular issues, joint and bone troubles, and cancer - Development of a co-occurring addiction problems, examples include
alcoholism or drug abuse
Advice on how to control overeating
Based on research by our food addiction experts, following the advice below may help you cope with your disorder and have better control over it:
- Eat balanced meals
- Make a daily eating plan
- Avoid consuming food while distracted
- Do not limit the food types you’re allowed to eat
- Consume enough water each day
- Avoid environments that might trigger you
- Develop techniques to manage the symptoms of your addiction
- Seek professional assistance if your cravings become unmanageable
If you want to learn more about this topic, feel free to visit our Guide on Managing a Food Addiction.
The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide
that you are not going to stay where you are
Food Addiction Symptoms
Generally, each individual views food in a unique manner and experiences different cravings on a regular basis. However, certain indicators may suggest that these cravings are a sign of a food addiction, among which are:
- The inability to stop consuming food even when you are full
- Placing excessive food consumption over loved ones, hobbies, and work, resulting in neglect
- Requiring higher amounts of food and more frequent ingestion to satisfy your increased cravings
- Having the sense that food controls every aspect of your life
- Eating in order to cope with symptoms of anxiety or depression
- Consuming so much food that you regularly feel nauseous
- Doing everything in your power to purchase unhealthy food even when it is not readily accessible
- Hiding or being untruthful in regard to your eating habits when someone inquires about them
- Feeling an extreme sense of guilt each time you overeat
- Facing work-related issues due to excessive food consumption
- Ingesting food more rapidly than most other people
- Continuing to overeat despite the adverse effects the habit has on your life
Fast Access to Residential Treatment
We are currently able to offer fast access to private inpatient treatment.
Please call us today and speak to one of our expert advisors.
Call in confidence: 0800 0148 970
Food Addiction Help
Asking for professional assistance for food addiction is often a frightening step. To make it more manageable, our centres offer free addiction assessments to anyone who is struggling. During a confidential conversation with our team, you can analyse your dependency in a compassionate setting and learn more about the available treatment methods. Depending on the severity of your case and your particular needs, your personalised treatment plan may include various therapy types, such as:
- Individual sessions
- Group sessions
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Our Approach to Food Addiction Treatment
Our approach includes examining food addiction beyond merely the physical symptoms it causes. Instead, our team looks at the broad picture, aiming to discover the root causes of the dependency. Through thorough research, we have compiled a list of all the areas that addiction experts ought to focus on when treating overeating:
- Analysing the development of addiction in order to devise a treatment plan that will aid healthy weight loss
- Studying the connection between overeating and the inability to cope with negative emotions, as well as creating individualised strategies for managing both
- Ensuring that the recommended course of treatment is centred around one’s interpersonal relationships
- Designing a set of healthier coping strategies that will replace overeating
- Educating the general public about the relationship between obesity and mental health problems, with emphasis on dismantling the common misconception that obese people simply “have no willpower” to lose weight
- Using reparative relational therapy to treat overeating as an addiction, all in order to avoid patients using food to self-soothe
12 Step Philosophy for Food Addiction
Our treatment for food addiction is built upon the abstinence based 12 step approach. Founded by Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), this strategy merges motivational exercises and spirituality to encourage sustainable recovery from addiction.
Regardless of how dire your situation may seem, you are never alone in your fight. Professional aid is always available to those who seek it; all you have to do is reach out to our team, and we will help you initiate your treatment process.
Frequently asked questions
In all its essential traits, food addiction is no different from substance dependency. This similarity is most easily seen when we examine the causes behind both types of dependence.
Some of the most common similarities include:
Emotional detachment and dissociation from loved ones
- Extreme sensitivity to others’ behavioural patterns and changes
Together, these two factors impact how an individual will react to negative emotions and stressful situations. Those who exhibit the traits above will be more susceptible to using overeating or substances like drugs and alcohol to cope.
According to research, overeating is often a response to feelings such as sadness, numbness, fear, and anxiety. The key to managing addiction is analysing these emotions and their origin.
Another prevalent interpretation of overeating is connected to the nurturing nature of food. Namely, many consume copious amounts of food as a replacement for maternal soothing they lacked during childhood. Through overeating, they are able to manage their sense of loneliness or anxiety and feel supported.
By studying the nature of both food addiction and binge eating disorder (BED), it is easy to assume that they are one and the same. However, the two conditions are distinct, and noting that difference is essential for treating them.
According to formal classifications, binge eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that develop due to a combination of environmental, psychosocial, emotional, and genetic factors. Conversely, food addiction is more biochemical in nature, as it arises solely because of the physical gratification that patients experience after eating.
FREE Addiction Assessment
If your or a loved one are struggling with addiction, we understand the challenges you’re facing and we’re here to offer compassionate help.
Our highly trained advisers are available to speak to you right away, simply call 0808 252 3379 today.
We can discuss your concerns in complete confidence, explore the options for treatment, and help you to understand what will work best for you.
We’ll also help you to book your free addiction assessment there and then, with appointments usually available within only a few days.
We understand that taking the first step can be the most difficult, but we’re here to support – with no pressure or judgement.
Professional and compassionate help is just a phone call or click away.
