Food is undoubtedly the necessity of life but this necessity sometimes, albeit discreetly, turns into an addiction. It happens because food releases a brain chemical called ‘ Dopamine ‘which helps in elevating stress and giving a pleasurable feeling. Also, due to this reason it is very easy to fall in hands of ‘tasty food’.

Before we go into details about food addiction, it is important to know that food addiction is preventable. If you suffer from any disease triggered by food addiction, you can consider going overseas for an affordable medical tourism treatment.

What is Food Addiction?

Food addiction is the compulsive need to eat even when you are not hungry. Just because you can, does not mean you should. Here is something about it-

Symptoms of Food Addiction –

Research scientists at Yale University’s Rudd Centre for Food Sciences and have decided to identify the signs of food addiction through a questionnaire. This strategy is good because food addiction is quiet difficult to identify. Some basic traits which are common among food addicts are –

• Overeating at mealtimes

• Eating at strange times like the wee hours of morning or the middle of night

• Constant failed attempts at controlled eating

• Regular obsession with what, when, and how to eat

• Hiding habits from peers or family members

• Eating even with a full stomach

• Weight gain

• Inability to control food cravings

• Relating food consuming with moods

• Eating to accompany relaxing activities like watching television

Types of Food Addiction –

• ​Binge Eating: It can be described in simple words as ‘ consuming large food portions rapidly’ which leads to overeating. Whenever, mind signals to eat, body starts acting accordingly. It can also be called as uncontrollable eating.

• ​Anorexia: Anorexia Nervosa is a kind of food restriction but an addiction, none the It can be called ‘the fear of gaining weight’. A person would avoid eating no matter what and will have a very strong urge of staying thin. An anorexic will only eat in small amount and selective food items only.

• Bulimia: This type of addictiveness follows binge eating. Once the food is consumed, the individual starts focusing on losing the weight somehow. Laxatives, puking, dieting, extensive exercise etc. are used as a measure s. Bulimia is generally a result of mental disorder.

Treatment of Food Addictions –

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): It teaches the person to control and manage his/her cravings and direct the mind to avoid giving into the temptation of consuming food. It helps in enhancing behavior and responses towards urges.

• ​Psychotherapy: Sometimes, the addiction is related to emotional reasons but eating is not a solution. Psychotherapy tackles the root cause instead of providing temporary comfort like food does. Food is not a stress buster and should not be used so.

• Medication :Some food addictions are a result of mental instability or have extended out of control. In such cases, no other option remains other than medication. It gives solution to food addiction as well as the cause of it (like depression). Medication is the fastest solution to food addiction but it cannot be applied in every case.

Food addiction may seem harmless, unlike that of drugs or alcohol but excess of everything is bad. With a little therapy it could be easily bought under control.

Having a balanced diet and following it strictly will abstain from food addiction. Not only that but food should be viewed only for its nutritional value and no amount of satisfaction should be expected by overeating or by its taste.

Do you ‘ eat to live ‘or ‘ live to eat’ ?