So, What Is Food Addiction, Anyway?

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So, What Is Food Addiction, Anyway?

Saturday, October 27th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

In order to best answer the question, “What is food addiction?” we need to define what an addiction is. And addiction is what your world revolves around, to the exclusion of anything and everything else. You wake up thinking about it and go to sleep dreaming about it. Most of your day is planning or carrying out your addiction. You loose interest in almost everything else in life, including your family. Addictions happen to almost anybody of any sex, race, religion, IQ rating, political affiliation or economic bracket. So, in answering, “What is food addiction?” food has become the revolving point of your world.

But You Need Food

Yes, you do need food in order to survive, just as you need oxygen in order to survive. Addicts that make headlines tend to be hooked on substances not necessary to survival – tobacco, drugs, video games, shopping, whatever. You need food to survive. But eating every day does not make you a food addict. Getting hungry more than once a day does not make you a food addict. So, what is food addiction?

Food addiction is when most of your thoughts, money and daily activities have to do with food. Hunger happens in a body to remind it to eat. When you are really having a good time at something – sleeping, sex, horseback riding, attending a concert – you are having too good a time to think of food. Most people in the modern world of refrigerators and supermarkets only think of eating when hungry, and not make it a 24/7 obsession.

But This Scientist Says There Is No Such Thing

Yes, there are many scientists, when asked, “What is food addiction?” will answer, “An urban legend, nothing more.” Some say you are not addicted to food, but the sugar or fat in the food. Either way, food is going down your gob more than it was meant to. Overeating leads to many health complications, including increased chance for heart attacks, diabetes and backaches.

Only you can answer “What is food addiction?” and “Am I addicted to food?” If you turn to food every time you are bored, depressed or upset and even eat when you are quite full, you may have a problem. If you start eating in private and hate eating in front of others, you may have a problem. If you can’t fit out of the door, then you DEFINITELY have a problem. Help is available from your doctor, from groups like Overeaters Anonymous and online support groups.

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