The effects of certain foods on the brain make it difficult for some people to avoid them. A great way to support a loved one is to encourage them to receive professional addiction treatment that directly addresses their food addiction. When the pleasurable effects decrease, or when a person is forced to abstain from eating these foods, withdrawal symptoms appear. As with drug or alcohol detoxification, abstinence is a basic component of any addiction.
Are you overweight? Underweight? Obsessed with food, weight, or diet? You are not alone. If you answered YES to any of these questions, you may be addicted to food. The FA offers hope through a long-term solution to food addiction The next step is to attend an FA meeting. Are you a self-confessed chocolate addict? Are you addicted to sweet foods? It's a fairly common assumption that sugar is “addictive”, just like substance or alcohol abuse, but is that really the case? Food addiction can weaken mental health, especially if there is a lack of support or inadequate help.
Support groups, such as Overeaters Anonymous, can also be a useful part of treating food addiction. Food addiction tends to go unnoticed because it focuses on symptoms rather than its underlying cause: addiction. These include 12-step programs such as Overeaters Anonymous (OA), GreysHeeters Anonymous (GSA), Food Addicts Anonymous (FAA) and Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA). Diet and nutrition counseling as an adjunct to primary food addiction programs helps maintain healthy eating habits in the long term.
Some argue that recovering from food addiction can be more complicated than recovering from other types of addictions. By seeking the right help and care you need, you can find the resources to effectively address your food addiction. Therapy or support groups can help you cope with the stress of supporting a loved one who is dealing with a food addiction. Food addiction is thought to involve the same neurotransmitters and areas of the brain as drug addiction.
Because of the fierce cycle of food addiction and the harmful consequences associated with this behavior, it's crucial to seek professional help. The environment contributes to the development of food addiction in a vulnerable person through repeated exposure to addictive foods and their immediate availability. A nutritionist, psychologist, or doctor trained in food addiction can help you break the cycle of compulsive overeating. Understanding the causes and signs of food addiction can help you reduce risk and change potentially problematic behaviors.
Eating a balanced diet and understanding the warning signs of food addiction will help you act quickly if you suspect a problem. Although food addictions appear to be similar to binge eating, food addictions are more related to eating patterns and pleasure and reward.