Food has been described as ambrosia and the elixir of life. For some, eating is a biological necessity. For others, it is a passion that can turn into an obsession. Experts define food addiction as a disorder where the addict is preoccupied with food, the availability of food, and the pleasure of eating.
Key Points
There are three recognised addictions:
- Overeating, where the addict has no control over the amount or number of times he eats The person has no concept of being overweight or the servings a person must eat normally. Being an over eater, the addict will indulge in uncontrolled eating binges. Being obese, the addict will be prone to hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, arthritis, and cancer.
- Bulimia Nervosa, where the addict binges and then tries to maintain weight by vomiting, using laxatives, excessive exercise, or fasting. Dental problems such as thinning enamel, an excess of cavities, swollen salivary glands, fluid and electrolyte disturbances, as well as calluses and scars, will develop in such addicts.
- Anorexia Nervosa is a condition in which the addict is afraid of gaining weight and thus starves himself.Anorexics who are obsessed with weight gain and body shape will engage in obsessive behaviours in order to maintain themselves.In the process, they develop problems like disruption of the menstrual cycle, emancipation, hair loss, unhealthy skin pallor, and a lack of fluids.
The most common health problems are obesity, alcoholism, diabetes, bulimia, food allergies, and food intolerance.
The signs that you are addicted to food are:
- Uncontrolled cravings for particular foods Some are addicted to sweets, others to soft drinks, yet others to coffee.
- Continuous or frequent eating There are no fixed meal times; an addict will eat throughout the day.
- increased hunger after eating certain foods
- Anxiety attacks, feelings of nervousness, low sugar, a headache, stomach gripes and grumbles
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Fatigue
- extreme irritation.
- Intolerance to foods
- feelings of guilt for eating
The very cornerstones of curing addiction are to:
- Identify and avoid what are known to be trigger foods or drinks.
- Put into practise a diet that is nutrient-rich, healthy, and helps maintain or lose weight.
- Make lifestyle adjustments. Adopt a healthier lifestyle and include plenty of fresh air as well as exercise.
- Focus on personal and spiritual development. Seek inner peace, calm, and joy. Practice meditation and deep breathing.
- Plan to have activity-filled days to distract the mind from food.
Even if you have a niggling doubt that you may be a food addict, you must seek help. Nip the problem in the bud before it grows into something unmanageable and serious. You must consult a nutritionist, doctor,
psychologist, or an eating addiction centre or specialist. There are programmes run by groups like Overeaters Anonymous that run 12-stepprograms, which are extremely beneficial.
