Although you might occasionally consume an excessive amount of potato chips or tortilla chips, would you consider yourself to be a person who is addicted to unhealthy foods? The answer is significant because it may hold the key to determining the course of action that you need to take in order to achieve your goal of losing weight. According to a number of medical professionals, the addiction to food is just as serious as the addiction to nicotine or cocaine, and it has the potential to be just as deadly.
Too much food to each at a time. Image: freepik
An intense craving for a particular food is a hallmark of those who suffer from food addiction. If you are unable to consume that food, you will experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and depression. This is because the desire is so strong that it causes you to experience these symptoms. Food addicts have an insatiable desire for the cosiness that a specific food provides them. Soon they may also engage in eating from smaller to large quantities before they find out it is too late. It’s possible that their desire for food involves both their physical and mental states.
The fact that there are numerous subtypes of food addiction is something that ought to be brought to attention. To give one example, there is the condition known as compulsive overeating, in which a person engages in eating binges that can last for several days. There are times when the addict may experience weight loss, but they typically put it back on again. Some of the symptoms include eating excessively quickly, eating alone compulsively, and eating even when there is no real indication that one is hungry.
Tempted to always open the fridge. Image: freepik
An additional type of addiction is bulimia, which is characterised by an individual’s tendency to overeat, followed by purging through either vomiting or the use of laxatives. Isolating oneself while eating, attempting to consume enormous portions of food in a short amount of time, and being preoccupied with one’s weight are all signals that indicate the presence of this condition.
A person who is addicted to food may also suffer from anorexia, which is a condition in which they attempt to starve themselves in order to achieve a weight that is not realistically achievable. Anorexics typically have a body weight that is 15 percent below the normal range and suffer from a fear of being overweight. It seems as though they are obsessed with their weight, and they have difficulty eating socially with other people. It is possible that they will engage in ritualistic behaviour that involves food and that they will battle depression.
One piece of encouraging news is that it is possible to successfully treat food addiction. This treatment can be administered in a number of different ways. In order to develop new ways to deal with food and the feelings that accompany it, a person who is addicted to food may work with a psychotherapist. It is possible that the therapist will be able to determine the origin of the individual’s fear or anger, which corresponds to the reason behind the individual’s addiction. A treatment plan that outlines the individual’s expectations and goals, both for the short-term and the long-term, will be developed with the assistance of the psychologist in the majority of cases. When the situation is particularly severe, it may be necessary for an individual to receive treatment at a psychological facility that is an inpatient programme. The treatment process typically entails assisting the individual in returning to healthy eating methods, addressing the emotional causes that lie beneath the addiction, and learning effective techniques for coping with the withdrawal symptoms.
Food addicts frequently adhere to the principles that are outlined in the same 12-step programme that is used by alcoholics. This requires them to acknowledge that they have no control over the food they eat, that they have faith that they can be brought back to sanity, and that they are aware of their shortcomings. Additionally, people who are addicted to food frequently find strength in support groups that are comprised of individuals who have similar challenges when it comes to dealing with food. Merely being aware of the fact that there are other individuals who are experiencing the same difficulties can be extremely therapeutic.
For the time being, it is not clear whether or not food addiction is a disease that is influenced by genetics. On the other hand, there is no doubt that there is evidence that eating habits are being handed down from one generation to the next. The fact of the matter is that many people who are addicted to food may not seek assistance until they have realised that their illness may have a negative impact on their children.
A food addiction may never be cured; rather, it may only be treated. This is a possibility that cannot be ruled out on any level. To phrase it another way, the period of recovery from the addiction may last for an entire lifetime. Nevertheless, one must never give up hope of overcoming a dependency on alcohol or food. Individuals who are addicted to substances can acquire the behavioural skills that will enable them to maintain control of their weight if they are patient and give themselves enough time. Individuals will, without a doubt, experience circumstances in which they will feel compelled to indulge in sweets or excessive amounts of carbohydrates. However, if they are aware of the discomfort that they will experience if they continue to engage in their unhealthy eating habits, this may serve as the motivation that they require to continue on their path.
