Food Addiction Treatment

Food addictions and other related eating behaviour problems have become evermore frequent in the modern world – with fast food being available 24/7 at the click of a button, and it’s no surprise that the UK is rapidly having several people with this condition.

Food addiction is a recent topic of discussion among professionals in the scientific community. It is a complicated condition that shares traits with other addictions like drugs, alcohol, or behaviour. Knowing the causes and signs of food addiction can help you reduce your risk and modify harmful behaviours.

While managing this can be tough, there are different treatment options available here at PROMIS to assist you in managing your symptoms and helping you overcome food addiction.

What is Food Addiction?

Food addiction is similar to addiction to drugs and alcohol. It is a behavioural problem where people overeat and depend on tasty foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. This addictive behaviour manifests because these tasty foods trigger the brain’s pleasure and reward system, much like addictive drugs such as opioids and cocaine.

Food addiction, also known as eating addiction, is a newly recognized behavioural issue. Research on its specific diagnostic criteria, measurement techniques, risk factors, and treatment options is still in the beginning stages. This condition is complex because it combines aspects of eating disorders, such as losing control over eating, with features of substance use disorders, like cravings and continued use, despite knowing the harm.

Signs And Symptoms Of Food Addiction

Many people can develop this behavioral addiction, but their experience of symptoms may be different. Here are some typical signs of food addiction you might notice in yourself or someone close to you:

Eating excessive amounts of food beyond the point of fullness
Eating compulsively even when you’re not hungry
Eating to feel better
Constantly thinking about your next meal or when you can binge
Experiencing strong guilt after overeating
Trying to hide your eating habits by eating alone
Feeling like you can’t control your cravings

Difference Between Food Addiction And Eating Disorders

Food addiction is a kind of eating disorder, even though the terms can be tricky. Eating disorders are mental health issues that lead to unhealthy eating habits, which can harm both physical and mental well-being. Some of the common types of eating disorders that share a few similar symptoms with food addiction include:

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where people limit their food intake and calories. This leads to significant weight loss or an inability to keep a healthy weight for their height and age. Those with anorexia may also exercise too much and make themselves vomit or use laxatives to control their weight. They often have a distorted view of their body and a strong fear of gaining weight.

The dieting habits seen in anorexia nervosa stem from a fear of becoming overweight. Even if some individuals claim they want to gain weight, their actions show otherwise. They might eat only small portions of low-calorie foods and engage in excessive exercise. Some may also binge eat occasionally and then purge through vomiting or laxative use.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is a mental health condition that typically involves frequent periods of binge eating, sometimes in secret and out of sight of others. This is then followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviours called purging, which may include force vomiting or taking laxatives.

These episodes of binging are usually uncontrolled and tend to continue even though they may no longer be physically hungry. Afterward, there is an overwhelming sense of guilt or shame with the fear of gaining. Those suffering from bulimia hide it well, and they generally tend to keep the same or similar body weight and go through the cycle secretly. However, the health consequences of this particular condition can be extremely damaging, affecting both the physical and psychological aspects of the individual.

Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a condition marked by repeated episodes of binge eating where a person consumes a large quantity of food quickly. During these episodes, individuals often feel they cannot control their eating, leading to considerable distress. Unlike some other eating disorders, those with BED do not engage in purging behaviours like vomiting or excessive exercise to compensate for their binge eating.

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

ARFID is marked by a way of eating that completely avoids specific foods or food groups and/or limits the amount eaten or consuming only small portions. This type of eating does not happen because of food scarcity or cultural practices, such as fasting or religious dietary choices. Anyone of any age can develop ARFID, whether children, teenagers, or adults.

We offer a wide range of mental health programmes to suit everyone’s needs. This includes counselling for depression or anxiety, a 24-hour telephone helpline, and a range of workshops.

Causes Of Food Addiction

Food addiction likely arises from a combination of different factors. A person may become addicted to food due to biological, psychological, or social influences.

Biological factors can include hormonal changes, issues in brain structure, side effects from certain medications, or a family history of similar addiction problems.

Psychological aspects also play a role. These can involve experiences like emotional or sexual abuse, surviving trauma, struggling to cope with negative situations, having low self-esteem, or dealing with grief and loss. Such psychological issues can lead individuals to use food as a way to manage painful feelings.

In addition, social factors may contribute to food addiction, including family dysfunction, peer or societal pressure, social isolation, child abuse, lack of support, and stressful life events.

It is important to note that food addiction may also occur alongside other disorders, such as eating disorders or substance abuse. Since it is a complex mental health issue that can lead to serious problems if not addressed, seeking professional help is strongly advised for recovery.

Negative Consequences Of Food Addiction

Food addiction can also lead to various negative consequences, which may affect daily living and the quality of life. Some of the impact of this condition may include:

Physical Health

Food addiction can land you in trouble with your physical health. It can lead you to a trip to the hospital because of various health complications, which can damage vital organs and other parts of the body. Malnutrition or lack of important vitamins and minerals can also result in extreme weight loss and can often be life-threatening. Other physical consequences that can arise from food addiction include heart disease, diabetes, digestive problems, malnutrition, stroke, and kidney and liver diseases.

Psychological Health

Over time, the addictive cycle of overeating can affect mental health and may lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other feeding and eating-related disorders.

Compulsive overeating can become so strong that people can become isolated and self-withdrawn. They tend to avoid interaction with others, which results in losing touch with friends and family.

Food Addiction Treatment Options

People who struggle with food addiction can receive treatment through different methods that focus on managing their symptoms, supporting long-term recovery, and teaching them how to deal with triggers.

Therapy

Therapy is an essential part of a comprehensive treatment programme for people with food addiction. It helps them find and deal with the emotional and mental issues that lead to their unhealthy eating habits. One of the most commonly used therapies for this condition is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectic behaviour therapy (DBT).

CBT provides tools to identify and challenge unrealistic thoughts about food, body image, and self-esteem that can lead to unhealthy eating habits. It also encourages the development of better coping methods and problem-solving abilities to handle cravings and triggers.

In addition, DBT has also shown great success in treating food addiction. It provides skills for managing emotions, handling stress, and improving relationships to cope with triggers and avoid relapse. It encourages people to be more aware of their feelings, accept themselves, and create a fulfilling life that doesn’t focus on food.

Residential Treatment

If you need intensive professional support, you can consider joining a residential rehab program, similar to what you would do for alcohol or drug addiction. Here at PROMIS, we also provide comprehensive treatment plans for people who are struggling with food addiction.

Medication

Food addiction usually comes from a deeper psychological or mental health problem. There are no FDA-approved drugs specifically for food addiction right now, but the healthcare provider may suggest medications such as antidepressants and anxiolytics that treat other mental health conditions associated with food addiction.

Nutritional Counselling

Collaborating with a registered dietitian or nutritionist allows people to create a personalized and healthy eating plan. Nutritional counselling teaches about portion sizes, nutrient-rich foods, and meal planning, which can help lessen the dependence on unhealthy foods.

Get Help With PROMIS Ketamine Rehab

If you or a loved one is suffering from ketamine addiction, it’s crucial to recognise that hope and effective treatment are available.

At PROMIS, we tailor a comprehensive treatment plan to address each individual’s specific challenges and needs. Our goal is to guide you through the journey to overcome ketamine addiction and provide you with the tools and support necessary for lasting recovery.

Don’t let addiction dictate your life any longer; seek help with our specialised drug rehab treatment and reclaim your path to wellness and fulfilment.