What Are Some Signs of Food Addiction?

Food addiction is a form of behavioral addiction that does not involve taking drugs or alcohol. The condition has no definition clinically but after years of research, there are some signs to indicate a difficult relationship with food can impair other areas of a person’s life. Learn more about the signs of food addiction and what to be mindful of if a loved one may be struggling.

How Addiction Works

It can help to understand how food may be addiction to understand how it develops into a personal addiction for some people. Food keeps people alive, without it, everyone would perish. Water keeps everyone alive, but rarely do people hear about water addiction. There are certain types of foods which can be quite addicting. These foods include:

• Processed food
• Corn syrup
• High sugary foods and beverages
• Processed grains
• Salty, starchy, fatty foods

Comparison to Other Addictions

People potentially can detect signs of food addiction by comparing food-related behaviors to the behaviors of people who develop substance use disorders. In some ways, there are similar pathways to addiction:

• Feelings of mental or physical discomfort that appear when a person stops eating certain foods
• An inability to control or reduce food intake
• Devoting time to thinking about food when not consuming it
• Putting consumption of food (or not eating) above other life priorities
• Continuing intake of harmful foods in spite of the danger

Yale Food Scale

On the Yale Food Scale there are thoughts and behaviors laid out that address common issues found among people who struggle with food disorders, including:

• Tendency to eat past feeling full
• Avoiding some circumstances out of fear of overeating
• Episodes of uncontrollable food intake
• Skipping social, work, or family obligations to eat some foods
• Feeling cravings for food when intake drops or stops
• Inability to function as a result of food or eating habits
• Presence of strongly negative emotions (guilt, depression, self-hatred) relating to food

Although this scale is not definitive, it can be telling signs of a condition that may be problematic. If a person or loved one determines a problem may exist around food, it can help to find self-help groups, but it may be even better to seek professional support for recovering from disordered eating which may become life threatening if left untreated..

Serenity Oaks provides support for addiction that has a stronghold on your life. We provide an intensive 5 week program to support your sobriety and recovery from addiction. Our therapeutic and medical support are just one of the tools we provide to help set you up for success in recovery. Call us to find out how we can help you get started: 844-720-6847.

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