Food addiction and eating disorders are complex mental health issues impacting more than 1 million Australians each year.
While eating disorders and food addiction differ considerably, both are related to a worrying increase in body image concerns, depression and anxiety, especially among young people.
Ahead of a national campaign to raise awareness of body image and eating disorders, let’s look at food addiction, the difference between food addiction and eating disorders and how to get help.
Reassuringly, food addiction and eating disorders are treatable. Understanding the various conditions and getting help from a psychologist or other health professional is an important step towards recovery.
What is Food Addiction
Food addiction is a psychological and emotional addiction to specific foods and substances. These foods are often highly processed and rich in sugar, fat and salt.
Eating such highly processed and palatable foods trigger chemical reactions in the brain that induce feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.
As the food activates the taste-reward and pleasure regions of the brain food addicts develop an obsession with what to eat, when to eat and other overeating behaviours such as hoarding or hiding food.
Food addicts become dependent upon the ‘good’ feelings from eating certain foods, which can drive a continued need to eat, even when not hungry.
Impact of Food Addiction
Food addiction can have a physical, psychological and social impact on your life.
If you or a loved one struggle with food addiction you may experience physical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, digestive problems, obesity, chronic fatigue, chronic pain and sleep disorders among other issues.
Psychological impacts can include low self-esteem, depression, panic attacks, anxiety, increased irritability, especially if access to desired food is restricted and emotional detachment or numbness. In severe cases it can also lead to suicidal ideation.
Food addiction can also impact your social life with avoidance of social events or functions, lack of enjoyment of hobbies or activities and social isolation.
Signs You May Have a Food Addiction
Identifying food addiction involves noting specific behaviours and feelings related to your eating. Some key indicators include:
- Cravings and Loss of Control: Experiencing intense cravings for certain foods, particularly high-sugar or high-fat items and being unable to stop eating even when you try to limit yourself.
- Eating in Secret: Consuming food in secret or lying about the amount or type of food eaten due to embarrassment or shame.
- Guilt and Regret: Feeling guilt, regret, or shame after eating, especially after overeating or consuming unhealthy foods.
- Eating Despite Negative Consequences: Continuing to eat certain foods despite knowing they are harmful to your health or well-being.
- Preoccupation with Food: Constantly thinking about food, planning meals excessively, or finding that thoughts of food interfere with daily activities.
- Overeating: Frequently eating more than intended, eating to the point of discomfort or continuing to eat despite not being hungry.
- Impact on Daily Life: Noticing that eating habits are affecting personal, social, or professional life, causing distress or conflicts in relationships.
- Withdrawal Symptoms: Experiencing withdrawal-like symptoms such as irritability, anxiety or physical discomfort when attempting to cut back on certain foods.
If several of these signs resonate with you, it may be beneficial to seek help to discuss your eating habits and explore possible solutions.
What are Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are specifically defined mental health conditions which have abnormal and unhealthy eating behaviours often driven by distressing thoughts and emotions related to food, body image and weight. These disorders can have severe physical and psychological consequences.
Among the most common types of eating disorders are:
- Anorexia Nervosa: This is an eating disorder where a person eats very little, fears gaining weight and has a distorted view of their body, often seeing themselves as overweight even when they are very thin.
- Bulimia Nervosa: This is an eating disorder where a person has episodes of eating a large amount of food (bingeing) and then tries to get rid of the food by vomiting, using laxatives or exercising too much (purging). This cycle is often driven by a fear of gaining weight.
- Binge-Eating Disorder: This is an eating disorder where a person frequently eats a large amount of food in a short time and feels unable to stop, even when they are not hungry. Unlike bulimia, they do not regularly try to get rid of the food afterward.
- Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): This is where a person has significant eating issues that cause distress and health problems but don’t fit the specific criteria for other eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia. The symptoms can vary widely and may include a mix of different eating disorder behaviours.
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that require comprehensive treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for preventing long-term health complications.
The Difference Between Food Addiction and Eating Disorders
Food addiction and eating disorders are both related to problem eating behaviours, but they differ in underlying causes, symptoms and treatment approaches.
While food addiction centres on an addictive relationship with certain foods and compulsive eating despite negative consequences, eating disorders encompass a broader range of abnormal eating behaviours and psychological issues related to food, body image and weight.
Here is an overview of the differences:
Food Addiction
- Nature: Food addiction is an uncontrollable urge to consume certain foods, particularly those high in sugar, fat or salt. It is like other forms of addiction where individuals experience cravings and engage in compulsive behaviour despite negative consequences.
- Behaviour: People with food addiction often eat in response to emotional triggers such as stress, sadness or boredom. They may eat in secret, feel guilty about their eating habits and experience withdrawal-like symptoms when trying to cut back.
- Focus: The primary focus is on the addictive relationship with specific types of food and the inability to control consumption despite knowing the adverse effects.
Eating Disorders
- Nature: Eating disorders are mental health conditions where there are severe disturbances in eating behaviours and related thoughts and emotions. They include disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder.
- Behaviour: Each eating disorder has distinct behaviours.
- Focus: The primary focus is on the abnormal eating patterns and the psychological factors driving these behaviours, such as body image issues, fear of gaining weight and extreme measures to control weight.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for food addiction and eating disorders are comprehensive and often require a multidisciplinary approach. Treatments can include psychological therapy, nutritional counselling, medical monitoring and sometimes medication.
Some common treatments:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a widely used and effective treatment for both food addiction and eating disorders. It can help you identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours related to food, body image and self-esteem.
Nutrition counselling involves working with a registered dietitian or nutritionist to develop a balanced and sustainable eating plan. This can help you establish regular mealtimes and portion control, educate about the nutritional value of foods and create structured meal plans to avoid impulsive eating or food restriction.
Medical monitoring is needed for maintaining overall physical health and addressing any medical issues arising from malnutrition, binge eating or purging. In some cases, medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs may be prescribed to manage underlying mental health conditions.
Psychotherapy focussing on regulation of emotions, improving relationships and addressing interpersonal issues impacting eating behaviours can also be beneficial.
Effective treatment for food addiction and eating disorders most often requires a combination of therapies which are tailored to an individual’s specific needs.
Getting Help
Getting help for food addiction and eating disorders involves reaching out to healthcare professionals, specialised services and support groups. Various resources are available to provide support and treatment tailored to your needs.
As a first step, consider visiting your doctor or GP. They can provide an initial assessment, offer referrals to specialists and discuss treatment options.
Your GP can also help with managing any related health issues and provide referrals to mental health professionals and dietitians.
Psychological Health Care offers counselling and support to help you overcome food addiction. We invite you to book an appointment with us for a confidential consultation.