It’s 10:54 pm. You’re lying on the couch, watching a comfort movie, and beside you is a pizza box. Now, you’ve already eaten four hefty slices. Your stomach pleads no more, but there’s a little voice in your head urging you to have one more slice… and so you do.
Everyone overeats from time to time; occasionally eating past fullness is only natural. However, food addiction is different. People with food addiction struggle on a day-to-day basis with a loss of control over food, typically refined foods. Though it is a relatively new topic, food addiction is a natural phenomenon. This article will explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying food addiction and shed light on its similarities to other types of addiction, such as drugs, alcohol, and gambling.
What causes food addiction?
Recent studies have demonstrated that certain pathologic patterns of food consumption, namely binge eating, consistent overeating, emotional eating, etc., bear a striking resemblance to substance-use disorders. This is likely because food, especially foods high in carbohydrates, fat, salt, sugar, or artificial sweeteners, trigger the brain's pleasure centers akin to drugs. Both food and drugs play a critical role in modulating reward processing through the release of ‘feel-good’ chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are integral to the functioning of neural circuits involved in food reward processing, including the basal ganglia, extended amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. The activation of these circuits reinforces the three stages of addiction: binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect, and craving, mirroring the reward-seeking behaviors observed in substance addiction. Moreover, evidence for tolerance to food rewards suggests that prolonged exposure to highly palatable foods can decrease the responsiveness of the brain's reward system to food-related stimuli. This neuro-adaptive process may drive individuals to seek out more intense flavors or larger quantities of food to satisfy cravings and achieve the desired reward level.
Signs of Food Addiction
While food addiction is not officially recognized as a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), many researchers identify it as a subset of disordered eating behavior.
Signs and symptoms of food addiction may include:
Loss of control over eating behaviors
Cravings and Obsession with Food
Using Food as a Coping Mechanism
Hiding or Hoarding Food
Distorted Body Image
Risks of Food Addiction
Food addiction poses various risks to physical and mental health, contributing to a myriad of health concerns. The loss of control over food intake and compulsive overeating can result in excessive calorie consumption and weight gain, predisposing individuals to conditions such as obesity. Additionally, individuals may develop a binge eating disorder (BED), characterized by an overwhelming compulsion to consume large quantities of food, often driven by emotional distress rather than physiological hunger. Obesity and BED are associated with various physical and psychological consequences, including increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal issues, metabolic syndrome, and psychological effects such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Recognizing the potential consequences of food addiction underscores the importance of early intervention and treatment.
Treatment and Interventions
Unlike other addictions, recovery from food addiction is said to be more complicated. For example, smokers can ultimately abstain from smoking cigarettes to recover. However, people who are addicted to food still need to eat to survive. Nonetheless, support programs and professionals, including nutritionists, psychologists, and therapists, may be able to help break your cycle of compulsive overeating and promote healthier eating habits.
Reference list
Hunt, M. (2017). What Causes Food Addiction and What Are the Signs? [online] Virtua.org. Available at: https://www.virtua.org/articles/what-causes-food-addiction-and-what-are-the-signs [Accessed 16 Mar. 2024].
M.D, D.D.Z. (2021). How does addiction affect the brain?» Ask Our Doctors (by JourneyPure). [online] Ask Our Doctors. Available at: https://journeypure.com/ask-our-doctors/uncategorized/how-does-addiction-affect-the-brain/ [Accessed 16 Mar. 2024].
Watson, S. (2014). Why Am I Binge Eating? [online] WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder/why-binge-eating [Accessed 16 Mar. 2024].
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