Food Cravings & Addiction

Longing for a particular snack food, pizza or dessert on a somewhat regular basis is not an addiction. If your cravings lead to an obsession, leave you feeling helpless, result in bingeing episodes and detract significantly from your life, however, you may be addicted to food. While mild to moderate cravings may be resolved by eating more regularly, avoiding restrictive diets, managing stress and drinking more water, those associated with food addiction generally require professional help.

Relationship

Although research is limited, brain chemicals known as opioid peptides seem to influence food cravings and addictive tendencies, according to a report published in "Physiology & Behavior" in July 2002. And a strong link may stand between drug and alcohol abuse and excessive cravings in sweets. Food cravings are also common among people with obsessive compulsive disorder and eating disorders. This means that food cravings may occur as a byproduct of obsession over weight or food control. A heavily restrictive diet, for example, may trigger or intensify food cravings. If you have a food addiction, cravings and dependency are closely linked as aspects of the same disorder. Food addiction may occur on its own or accompany other addictions, such as drug abuse.

Features

Criteria for an addiction, as listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, include tolerance and withdrawal. Drug addicts also crave their drug long after they have stopped enjoying it. These characteristics accompany food addiction, according to a "Journal of Nutrition" report published in 2009. As a food addict, you may crave particular foods and beverages regardless of your level of hunger or perceived nutritional need, eat far more than your body can comfortably tolerate and continue to desire them whether you previously enjoyed them or not. As the addiction deepens, you may associate negative feelings, such as shame, guilt and anxiety, with food yet feel compelled to continue overindulging. During initial stages of recovery, withdrawal symptoms may include mood swings, headaches and sleep problems.

Significance

Mild to moderate food cravings are considered normal and harmless, even if they accompany drug or alcohol addiction. For the minimum estimated 18 to 24 million Americans with full-fledged food addiction, however, food cravings are part of a serious, potentially life-threatening condition, according to the Food Addiction Institute. Food addiction increases your risk for obesity and obesity-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke and heart disease. Emotional complications, such as depression, anxiety, damaged interpersonal relationships and reduced self-esteem, are also common. The longer your addiction goes unmanaged, the greater your risk for serious complications becomes.

Treatment

Most food addicts crave foods rich in sugar, flour or fat, according to the FAI, as well as caffeinated and alcoholic drinks. Less common cravings involve salt, wheat, whole grains, artificial sweeteners and certain meats, fruits or vegetables. Treatment typically involves eliminating the foods you crave from your diet, which gradually leads to reduced cravings. Psychological treatment guides you toward understanding your addiction and developing healthier ways of coping with negative moods and situations, rather than overeating. If you carry excess body weight, weight loss tends to occur naturally, as you develop a healthier relationship with food and eating. Avoid weight loss diets, which may trigger a relapse. Lengthy and severe addictions typically require long-term treatment and support.