Food Addictions – Are they Real?
Make sure you check out our Podcast on the topic here
Is a food addiction a real thing?
Food addiction is similar to several other disorders, including binge eating disorder, bulimia, compulsive overeating, and other feeding and eating disorders.
Though most studies suggest that food addiction is a highly controversial concept. It works similarly to drug addiction.
So, What is a Food Addiction?
Food addiction is a behavioral addiction characterized by the compulsive consumption of pleasurable foods (e.g., high fat, sugar, and salt foods).
These foods significantly set in motion the reward system in our brains regardless of the adverse results.
The idea that a person can be addicted to food has recently gained increasing support. That comes from brain imaging and other studies of the effects of compulsive overeating on pleasure centers in the brain.
Research shows that, for some people, the same reward and pleasure centers of the brain that are triggered by addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin are also activated by food, especially highly palatable foods
Signs of Food Addiction
- Do you avoid professional or social situatations where certain foods are available because of fear of overeating?
- When certain foods aren’t available, would you go out of your way to obtain them?
- Does eating the same amount of food reduce negative emotions or increase pleasure the way it used to?
Check out the exclusive Podcast for Babble subscribers to find out more signs of Food Addiction that you should be aware of.
Help for Food Addiction
Food can affect the brain in the same way as other addictive substances. So getting the right advice and support from some you can trust is important.
Remember, it’s important to listen to the signals your body is giving you and learn from them. Being healthy, fit, and having well-being is a wonderful concept but it’s the journey to getting there that we have to truly listen to!
