Food addiction is a mental and physical condition in which you to lose control of your eating habits and become compulsive or obsessive about food. Similar to drug or alcohol addicts, food addicts can become preoccupied with the thought of food and overeat as a way to feel high. When the high wears off, food addicts may go back to feeling depressed or ill. Although many food addicts understand their behaviour is unhealthy and are ashamed about their weight, they are not able to stop the cycle of addition. Once food addicts accept that they have a problem, they can take steps toward recovery.
Identify and Accept
Step 1
Identify whether you are a true food addict or simply a person with unhealthy eating habits. Speak to a health care provider who has experience dealing with food addiction to see whether you fit the profile. Also, Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous provides a series of questions on their website that you can read to help you identify your addiction.
Step 2
Accept that you have a problem with food addiction and understand that your addiction may lead to serious health problems. As with most types of addictions, acceptance is the first step. If you feel compelled, tell your loved ones that you have an addiction and need their support. Once you have accepted your problem, make a commitment to change it.
Step 3
Identify the types of food you crave. Plan to avoid these foods by changing your routine and shopping habits.
Recovery
Step 1
Call an eating disorder professional and arrange to begin a treatment program. Consider attending an inpatient program that will provide 24-hour support. Studies show that treatments are more successful when an addict participates in an inpatient program than when treated as an outpatient.
Step 2
Eliminate high salt and sugar foods from your diet gradually. Over time, your body will adapt to your new diet and you will become more sensitive to sweet and salty tastes. Similarly, moderate your food portions so you are able to gauge your true level of hunger.
Step 3
Add new and exciting activities to your routine to replace your preoccupation with food. Social activities and exercise can increase your level of happiness and bring feelings of pleasure without eating. Small actions, such as brushing your teeth or drinking water can also be used to conquer food cravings in the short-term.
Step 4
Ask your health care provider about drug treatments if you do not find other methods of recovery helpful. Naltrexone is one treatment that has been shown to reduce the appeal of food, according to a study by Marcia Levin Pelchat, published in 2008 as a supplement to "The Journal of Nutrition."
