When Food is an Addiction

Many people pass judgement on others who are overweight especially if they, themselves, don’t have a weight problem.  Most people don’t realize that overeating and the often resulting obesity may be from differences in how our brains are “wired.” 

Overeating and obesity doesn’t necessarily mean that a person is lazy or has no will power.  In a recent study, results show that, for some people, food is an addiction and their brains respond to food in a similar way that people with other addictions respond to alcohol or drugs when the binge on food. 

There are differences in actual brain activity in those who have have an addiction to food than in those who don’t when shown a picture of a sweet treat.  The participants in the study who had signs of food addiction had more activity in the craving areas of the brain in response to the picture.  The same participants also had less activity in the part of the brain that inhibits the desire to eat.

When measuring food addiction in this study, the researchers measured responses in a similar manner to how they would gauge any other addiction such as drugs or alcohol.  Food addicted individuals will have the same type of behavior patterns as those addicted to any other substances . 

They will be preoccupied with thoughts of food, be prone to going on eating binges and will have little control over their eating patterns.

Since obesity is such a problem and the effects on our health are serious, the medical profession is as concerned about food addiction as they are about other substance addictions like drugs or alcohol.  Extreme overeating and resulting obesity is just as dangerous to our health.

The importance of recognizing that food is, for some, an addiction and not just a lack of will power, can change how individuals approach weight loss and changing eating patterns.  Breaking the cycle of food addiction can be dealt with the same way as breaking addictions to any other substance.

Recognizing signs and symptoms of withdrawal from certain foods and a one day at a time attitude can help an individual overcome food addiction.  The researchers at Yale University have come up with a list of questions to determine if you have an addiction to food that are similar to the self questioning thresholds for other substance addictions.  They can be looked up online at abc world news and click on the health tab.