When hearing the term addiction, most individuals think of substance abuse like drugs or alcohol. However, addictions can apply to more than these substances. It is possible to become addicted to certain actions, the people you surround yourself with, and even the food you consume.
The Danger of Unhealthy Eating
The potential of a food addiction coming into play may cause a variety of eating disorders or weight management problems. The concept of food as the substance involved in addiction is somewhat controversial; however, certain foods can have addictive effects on our bodies. The signs of food addiction may not be as severe as they are with substance abuse, but they still are important to acknowledge in applicable cases.
The types of food that have a high potential of leading to addiction are foods high in sugars as well as refined and processed ingredients. If you find that your diet consists of high amounts of sugar and processed food sources, eating a diet full of vegetables likely seems tedious. Going even one day without giving our body these unhealthy food sources can provoke cravings to consume a delicious treat.
The chemical reactions that occur in our brain when we experience cravings for different foods are very similar to the cravings we experience for a specific substance. Overcoming the desire to eat these unhealthy foods may have similar effects as an individual in recovery would feel as they are working to quit the use of a substance. A unique danger of potential food addictions is the awareness level surrounding its habits. It can be easy to engage in addictive eating patterns without noticing because eating is a regular habit we engage in multiple times a day, and when we think of addiction, food may not come to mind.
Criteria for Addiction
For something to be officially considered an addiction, it has to fall under the DSM-5 description of substance use disorder. Reviewing these criteria, we can think of them in terms of food consumption to observe the potential of food consumption being considered an addiction.
According to the DSM-5, substance use is characterized by:
- Hazardous use
- Tolerance increase
- Repeated attempts to stop
- Withdrawals
- Great amount of time spent using
- Stopping activities that were once enjoyable
- Neglect of roles
- Social or interpersonal problems
- Physical or psychological problems
- Legal problems
Thinking of each of these aspects regarding food, you can observe the effects your eating habits may be having on you. To be considered an addiction, the concerning behavior must be characterized by at least two of these traits.
What Might Food Addiction Look Like?
Considering the characteristics of unhealthy food, excessive consumption could be considered hazardous use. Continuing to consume large amounts of food leads to an increase in appetite, increasing the amount of food needed to feel satisfied. This is similar to an increase in tolerance levels. Individuals who struggle to manage a healthy diet oftentimes have repeated attempts to quit eating unhealthy food but easily fall back into old habits. Food addictions may encourage people to spend a greater amount of time engaging in food consumption, potentially giving up healthy activities they once enjoyed.
As there seems to be a potential for food addiction to have similar signs to substance abuse, the physical and psychological issues that arise from an addiction to food can be as severe as they are in addictions to alcohol or drugs. If you are consistently consuming unhealthy foods, which are high in sugar and fats, the effects on your body can be drastic. There can be many negative side effects such as fatigue, weight gain, respiratory failure, cardiovascular troubles, and a variety of other conditions from unhealthy eating habits. On the psychological side, body dysmorphia, depression, and a compulsion to eat are common struggles. Many of these issues are also present with substance use disorder.
Do I Have a Food Addiction?
While there is not yet an official diagnosis for food addictions, the idea that people can become addicted to unhealthy eating habits seems possible. For most individuals, the likelihood of developing an addiction to a substance is much stronger; however, being aware of your eating habits and ensuring you are not falling into a state of addiction to food can help you prevent mental and physical health problems caused by unhealthy eating.
The severity of unhealthy eating habits is often harder to recognize than the onset of substance use disorder. When we enjoy a treat full of sugar, the reward period is very brief after consumption. With substances, the reward period often lasts much longer. When the food cravings begin to set in, you may feel the need to consume an entire container of ice cream to satisfy your ice cream craving.
Once an individual’s tolerance increases for the amount of food they wish to consume, the habits begin to feel like normal eating patterns. This is similar to the point of the addiction cycle where the desire for the substance is out of the individual’s control. Working to change your dieting habits at this point can be extremely difficult, just as if you were going through addiction recovery.
While there has not been enough research to fully diagnose food addictions, the potential of them occurring is possible. Reviewing the criteria required for substance use disorder, you can see that many of the addictive symptoms can be experienced when developing a craving for certain food types. While many aspects of this potential addiction are undiscovered, ensuring you are engaging in healthy eating habits and not allowing food to overpower you is extremely important. Allowing bad eating choices to become habits can cause a variety of serious side effects, both physical and psychological. Taking care of your body and the food you are putting into it can make a large difference in your ability to function at a high level. To learn more about food addictions or to discuss the effects your eating habits are having on your health, reach out to Dream Recovery at (949) 732-1960.
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