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Food Addictions...Are you an Addict?

Article written by Jessica Barker.

When we think of addiction we usually think of drug, alcohol, and even gambling.  However there are different types of addiction. One of the most powerful is FOOD addiction. How many of you have used the phrase ‘I need a sugar hit’? Well, there may be more truth behind this statement than we would like to believe. To put it simply, addiction is the feeling of immediate gratification2, whether it is drugs, alcohol or food. However, what goes up must come down. Like other addictive substances, when we eat foods high in sugar or fat we start to feel good and satisfied. However that feeling or ‘buzz’ may eventually ware off and some people feel guilty for eating the food. On top of that our bodies may actually experience a biological reaction and perhaps withdrawals.1 And like any other addict, an individual addicted to food will seek out their next hit.

The problem with being addicted to certain foods is we just can’t go cold turkey! We still need to eat ‘the turkey’ to survive. That is, unlike most other addictive substances we need food everyday for our survival. We can’t just stop eating. This can make food addiction a difficult one to overcome.

Think about it, food is all around us, we turn on the TV and there are advertisements showing us all the yummy food we can eat, we walk outside and there are cafes and shops displaying beautifully presented food for us, we walk into a supermarket trying to buy healthy food and get to the checkout where there are chips and chocolates just begging us to buy them. No wonder most of us find it difficult to resist temptation!

Although there are many different types of addiction, there are common treads that bind them together. It doesn’t really matter which substance we chose to use, we need to determine why? Why are we trying to escape, why are some people more likely to become addicted while others are not? There are three main theories around addiction; Genetic, Exposure and Adaptation theories.1

  • Genetic theories attempt to separate the environmental and genetic factors of addiction. Some studies have suggested that if one of your parents has suffered from a form of addiction you  may have a predisposition to being addicted yourself.1
  • Exposure theories are based around conditioning and reinforcement.  Meaning whatever we are addicted to acts as a powerful reinforcer and gains control over our behaviour.1
  • Adaptation theories incorporate environmental, social and psychological factors. This theory examines emotions and internal and external factors.1

Theories of food addiction has sparked a debate within the scientific community. Earlier this year the ABC interviewed Simon Thornley from Auckland’s Regional Public Health Service. Thornely believes that it is not so much food we are addicted to rather it’s sugar and fats. Thornely goes on to say, there are many reasons why we can become addicted to such foods. Sugars and fats might very well be highly addictive substances, and in the environment in which we live; these foods are on hand 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.3

But enough with the doom and gloom...there is hope. If you think you are addicted to something, there are techniques and ways to help. Here are some ideas:

  • The first step is to acknowledge you have a problem
  • The second is to find out the reason why you have this addiction (where did it all begin and what happened)
  • The third is to heal the why 

Although these may sound easy in theory, this isn’t always the case. The above information can help you become more aware of the addiction, and overtime you may find ways to kick that addiction once and for all. If you don’t think you can do it alone (and most people with a true addiction can’t), there are support groups and other professionals that can help. So if you think you have an addiction whether it be food or something else, speak to your doctor and together you can find a way to fight back and kick whatever addiction it may be.

But before you all start thinking you are an addict – food addict that is, there are many other reasons why we over eat. The most common is hunger. Have you heard the expression ‘You should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen and dinner like a pauper’? Most people however do almost the opposite and eat breakfast like a super model, lunch like a princess and dinner like a kingdom!  If you find yourself starving by the end of the day, before jumping to the conclusion that you have food addiction look at what you are eating during the day.  The majority of us just aren’t eating enough or the correct food at the right times. Are you consuming adequate fiber, protein, low glycemic index carbohydrates and drinking enough water? If not, perhaps dietary modifications are necessary before jumping to conclusions. Why not try looking at what you are eating and how you structure meals, and then try making dietary changes. You may just find that you no longer have what you thought was an addiction!

References

  1. Peele, Stanton & Alexander, Bruce K., February 2009. The Meaning of Addiction [Online]. Available at http://www.peele.net/lib/moa3.html [accessed 19th February 2009].
  2. Rodgers, Joanne, 2007.  Addiction: Whole New View [Online]. Available at
    http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19940901-000020.html [accessed 19th February 2009].
  3. Santow, Simon., 13th January 2009. Jury out on Food-addiction theory  [Online]. Available at http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2464496.htm [accessed 19th February 2009].

 


 


Last updated 17 June 2009