For some time the term food addiction has been gaining
relevance within the general population. In fact, many people tend to perceive
themselves as food addicts, unable to control the urge to eat certain types of
foods.
Although the term was first proposed in 1956, it hadn't
garnered much interest until about two decades ago. According to a review
published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, until 2008 only up to
five articles were published per year on the Web of Science, a number that has
now increased to more than 70.
The idea stems from the difficulty that many people have to
resist certain "appetizing" foods, usually highly caloric and highly
processed. In this sense, the act of overeating is considered to have addictive
potential. Below, the nutrition specialists from The Meadowglade, a
rehabilitation facility for clients with mental health & eating disorders,
explain some of the main causes for food addiction, and propose some great
treatments.
What is Food Addiction?
Food addiction is a disorder characterized by an
uncontrollable desire to eat foods that are high in fat and sugar. This
dependence is due in part to the fact that these foods activate the brain's
reward system in a similar way to drugs. This generates the release of
neurotransmitters such as dopamine and oxytocin, which triggers a need to
repeat the behavior.
Causes of Food Addiction
The causes of food addiction have been linked to
neurobiological mechanisms. The reward systems of the central nervous system
are controlled by neurotransmitters responsible for learned behaviors and
responsible for responding to pleasant or unpleasant factors. There are certain
addictive substances that produce an effect on the limbic system, producing an
artificial association of pleasure. If these substances or foods are consumed
regularly, they directly affect the limbic system, thereby producing the
beginning of the addiction process. Some foods that can affect this system are
sugars or fats. Addictive behaviors affect brain circuits, such as the
dopaminergic, opioid, serotonergic and glutamate systems, giving rise to
pleasant sensations.
On the other hand, explain from The Meadowglade, it should
be noted that anxiety plays a fundamental role in the causes of food addiction.
When the person is stressed or anxious, their consumption increases and they
prefer foods that contain many sugars, high content of fat or salt. This set of
foods produce a feeling of well-being since their action is similar to that of
endorphins. When this feeling of well-being diminishes, the anxiety appears
again due to the guilt of the binge and the person has the need to eat again,
thereby creating a vicious cycle. Therefore, the causes of food addiction are:
·
Manage anxiety through food.
·
The effect of consuming these foods on the
brain's reward system.
·
The feelings of guilt.
Consequences of food addiction
The consequences of food addiction are diverse and can be
differentiated into psychological consequences and physical consequences.
As for the consequences of physical food addiction, the main
disease that can be derived from binge eating is obesity. Food addiction and
obesity can lead to heart problems, the onset of type 2 diabetes,
gastrointestinal diseases and certain respiratory disorders can appear.
On the other hand, the consequences of psychological food
addiction are various. In addition to generating high peaks in stress, anxiety,
and guilt, food addiction has been linked to the onset of mood disorders, such
as depressive and bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, and the onset of substance
use.
How to Overcome Food Addiction: Treatment
The treatment of food addiction must be carried out from its
complete approach. As we have previously established, food addiction is not
based solely on biological factors, but there is a great implication of
psychological factors associated with eating behavior. Therefore, its treatment
cannot be stipulated solely on a diet to limit behavior and improve lifestyle.
In the first place, the treatment of food addiction must be
adapted to the individual needs and characteristics of each person, collecting
the necessary information to help us understand the root of the addiction and
what are the factors that are currently maintaining said behavior. Once the
focus of the problem has been identified, different types of psychotherapy can
be used to address it, such as EMDR therapy, mindfulness or
cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, among others.
Treatment for food addiction at The Meadowglade, a rehab center in Moorpark, California, strives
to give you the courage and the sense of security to talk about the issues and
be honest about your eating habits, what you are eating, how much of it you’re
eating and when you’re eating it.
How to overcome food addiction? If anxiety and stress are
predisposing factors to these behaviors of food abuse, these two factors should
be worked on. To do this, it will be necessary to establish the causes that
generate said anxiety and stress, work on them and provide the person with
strategies to manage these emotions with healthier alternatives, such as physical
exercise, relaxation or breathing exercises.
Learning to manage anxiety and stress is very relevant
because they can trigger psychological disorders such as mood disorders or
anxiety disorders. In addition, compulsive behaviors with food generate great
feelings of guilt and shame, which must be addressed to work on the person's
self-esteem during the treatment of food addiction.
On the other hand, in addition to the psychological problems
triggered by food addiction, major physical complications can appear, so it is
essential to draw up a dietary diet, with dietary and nutritional aspects,
carried out by a professional. The goal of this part of food addiction
treatment is to teach the person healthy habits, addictive foods to avoid (such
as carbohydrates) and to combine the diet with dopamine and serotonin precursor
foods and supplements. It will be necessary to carry out a psychoeducational
process regarding food, teaching the person to differentiate between the
sensations of "hunger" and "appetite" and foods whose content
has addictive principles.
Finally, it should be noted that the therapies that are
carried out for the remission of the behavior can be carried out at the
individual level and very commonly it is usually treated in group therapy,
which contributes to the sharing of experiences and thereby reduces shame and
guilt in the face of the problem.
