You may overdose on potato chips or tortilla chips once in a while, but would you consider yourself to be a food addict?
The answer is
important, because it could be the key to determining what course of
action you need to take in order to lose weight. A number of medical
experts say that food addiction is just as serious as nicotine or
cocaine addiction—and can potentially be just as deadly.
When
you suffer from food addiction, you have an overwhelming desire for a
particular food. The desire is so strong, in fact, that if you are
unable to consume that food, you suffer from withdrawal symptoms such
as headaches, nausea, and depression. Food addicts crave the
comfort that a particular food gives them. They also may engage in
binge eating. Their cravings for food may be both physical and
psychological.
It
should be pointed out that there are different varieties of food
addiction. For instance, there is compulsive overeating, where an
individual goes on eating binges that can last several days. The
addict may sometimes lose weight, but tends to gain it back again.
Symptoms include eating quickly, compulsively eating alone, and
eating when there is no evidence of hunger.
Yet
another form of addiction is bulimia, in which an individual
overeats, then purges either by vomiting or by taking laxatives.
Signs of this condition include isolating oneself when eating, trying
to consume huge portions of food rapidly, and being preoccupied with
one’s weight.
Food
addiction can also come in the form of anorexia, where an individual
attempts to starve oneself in order to achieve an unrealistic weight.
Anorexics tend to be 15 percent below normal body weight and have a
phobia about being fat. They have difficulty eating with other
people and appear to be obsessed with weight. They may engage in
ritualistic behavior involving food and may suffer from depression.
The
good news is that food addiction can be successfully treated. This
treatment can come in a variety of forms. A food addict may work
with a psychotherapist to develop new ways to deal with food and his
or her emotions. The therapist might be able to identify the source
of the individual’s fear or anger—the reason behind the
individual’s addiction. In the majority of cases, the
psychologist will help the individual to develop a treatment plan
which spells out expectations and goals, both for the short-term and
the long-term. In the most serious cases, an individual may have to
undergo in-patient treatment at a psychological facility. Treatment
often involves helping the individual to return to healthy eating
methods, dealing with the underlying emotional causes of addiction,
and learning effective coping techniques.
Food
addicts often follow the tenets of the same kind of 12-step program
used by alcoholics. This involves admitting their powerlessness over
food, their belief that they could be restored to sanity, and an
admission of their faults and failings. In addition, food addicts
often draw strength from support groups made up of people who have
similar difficulties dealing with food. Just knowing that there are
other people who face the same challenges can be incredibly
therapeutic.
It
is unclear at this point whether food addiction is a
genetically-based illness. Certainly, however, there is evidence of
eating patterns being passed down from one generation to the next.
In fact, many food addicts may only seek help after they have
determined that their illness could adversely affect their children.
It
is entirely possible that a food addiction can never be cured, that
it can only be treated. In other words, the recovery period for the
addiction can last a lifetime. However, one should never lose hope
of beating a food addiction. With patience and with time, individual
addicts can learn the behavioral skills which will enable them to
keep their weight under control. Of course, there will be times when
individuals will be tempted to indulge in sweets or excessive
carbohydrates. However, knowing the pain that they will undergo if
they continue their harmful eating habits could be just the incentive
they need to stay the course.
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