Mental Health: Food Addiction

People who are addicted to food tend to display many of the characteristics of addicts and alcoholics. Food addicts develop a physical, mental, emotional craving and chemical addiction to food. The characteristics of food addicts can include:

• Being obsessed and/or preoccupied with food.
• Having a lack of self-control when it comes to food.
• Having a compulsion about food in which eating results in a cycle of bingeing despite negative consequences.
• Remembering a sense of pleasure and/or comfort with food and being unable to stop using food to create a sense of pleasure and comfort.
• Having a need to eat which results in a physical craving.

What Are the Signs of Food Addiction?

Only the food addict can determine whether there is food addiction. The following are questions that potential food addicts may ask themselves:

Have I tried but failed to control my eating?

• Do I find myself hiding food or secretly bingeing?
• Do I have feelings of guilt or remorse after eating?
• Do I eat over emotions?
• Is my weight affecting my way of life?

Food addicts also may have symptoms including headaches, insomnia, irritability, mood changes, and depression.

How Is Food Addiction Treated?

Several options are available in the treatment of food addiction. These include consulting a nutritionist, doctor, psychologist, counselor, or eating disorder specialist. In addition, 12-step groups such Overeaters Anonymous (OA) have meetings in many regions or online. Some tips for avoiding bouts of compulsive eating include:

Knowing which situations trigger your cravings, and avoiding them if possible

• Drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day
• Exercising
• Relaxing with deep breathing exercises or meditation
• Trying to distract yourself until the compulsion to eat passes

If you believe that your eating addiction is causing problems in your life, seek medical assistance immediately.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology.