Is Food Addiction Real?

A friend may have confided in you that they are "addicted" to sugar, flour, chocolate, some other food, or even food in general. Or perhaps you have had difficulty putting the lid on a pint of ice cream or closing up a bag of potato chips rather than finishing the entire container. While many people have a conflictual relationship with food and their bodies, is food addiction real in the sense that alcohol or illicit drugs can be?

A lot of societal factors are at play, including our spending more time at the computer, being more sedentary in general, and increased concerns over economic insecurity contributing to emotional eating. It’s no secret that food can be a source of pleasure and temporary escape from problems. After all, unlike people, food is pretty predictable and doesn’t talk back to us... not verbally, at least. 

In addition, more and more outrageous culinary concoctions are being created. Food is big business. The food industry knows how to intrigue us with tantalizing pictures and odors of delectable and sometimes alarming dishes, in essence challenging us to eat them. For instance, the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas lists a “quadruple bypass burger” on its menu that weighs in at over 8000 calories, which is roughly four times the recommended daily caloric consumption for an average woman. What on earth? The Cheesecake Factory offers an aptly termed “blackout cake”, and even Starbucks carries a wide assortment of muffins and pastries that are practically the size of one’s head. 

So, it’s easy to see how we can fall into unhealthy eating habits, and habits can be difficult to break.

But is something more insidious involved? Is it possible to actually become physically addicted to food? 

According to recent research studies, the answer appears to be - maybe, with some caveats. 

In one study, rats given access to sugar for several hours a day developed tolerance, which is one hallmark symptom of dependence. The rats ate increasing amounts of sugar each day, and when the sugar was removed the rats went through withdrawal, with shaking and anxiety. 

In addition, the rats’ brains changed, with reductions in receptors for dopamine and opioids, which are natural “feel-good” chemicals produced by the body. In addition, brain scans have shown that like people addicted to alcohol or drugs, obese individuals have a decreased amount of dopamine receptors. The theory is that without the usual amount of such receptors, individuals will feel the need to use more and more of their substance of choice, including food, to feel satisfied. It also appears that continuing to overeat reduces the dopamine response further. 

Apparently calorie-dense foods, such as those high in sugar and fat, are particularly alluring due to evolutionary reasons. Back in the days when humans were running around in the wild and meals weren’t that easy to come by, foods that packed a punch calorically speaking were necessary to survival. Our physiology hasn’t changed all that much. 

So, what to do? Unlike alcohol and drugs, which can be eliminated entirely, we do have to eat -- we can’t “quit” food. The answers aren’t simple, but it may help to recognize that frequent indulgence in sugar and fat can in fact increase our cravings for these substances, in a way that may become more and more difficult to resist. 

At the same time, it's important to note that we experience surges of dopamine from many experiences, such as sex, laughter, listening to a favorite song, or reading a good novel. So, in general sugar and fat aren't the issue as much as one's relationship with them is. Often an emotional attachment to food (which can feel a lot like an "addiction") stems from a history of trauma, unmet needs, anxiety, or other emotional pain that we do not feel equipped to deal with. Thus, turning to food (or thoughts of food) when in pain are an attempt to survive.

Issues with food and eating run the gamut from eating disorders as defined by the DSM-V (Diagnostic Statistical Manual), such as Binge Eating Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, and Bulimia Nervosa. to disordered eating which doesn't fit a clinical diagnosis but can still significantly disrupt one's life. The path to recovery varies from person to person, and may involve psychotherapy, a dietician, a medical doctor, and/or a support group, but recovery is possible, even if you've struggled with a diagnosed eating disorder or disordered eating for years. 

So, rather than splitting hairs over whether or not food addiction exists or is applicable in your case, it might be more helpful to take a closer look at your relationship to food and to address factors that may have contributed to or are currently fueling any problematic food- or body-related issues. Remember, nobody decides to develop an eating disorder. It is not a choice. It is often a survival tactic, to manage anxiety, shame, and other upsetting feelings. 

Everyone deserves to respect and enjoy their bodies and to eat in a balanced (healthy, rigid) way. Finding (or relocating) your inner wisdom regarding food and your true needs and desires can also help you to find your "true north" in other ways.