Are you unable to stop eating and eat when you’re not hungry? Do you eat to the point of feeling physically ill? Is your over eating causing anxiety and low self-esteem?

If so, then research suggests you may be suffering from a food addiction.

People can become overly dependent on diets high in saturated fat and sugar and have difficulty controlling their intake. Studies found that the most likely foods to produce cravings are fast food diets including cheeseburgers, pizza, chips, fizzy drinks and milk shakes, as well as ice cream, chocolate, cakes, biscuits, white bread, white pasta and crisps. Foods with less sugar and fat do not tend to cause the same symptoms.

Is it all in your head? The answer is yes – research has identified similarities in the way the brain responds to addictive substances and the foods mentioned above. They both stimulate the reward system of the brain, releasing dopamine and opioids or “pleasure chemicals” which induces further cravings. Eating these foods can also cause resistance to other hormone signals in the body that would normally assist in controlling our appetite. Some people may have a predisposition to these cravings or an increased sensitisation to these foods and therefore are more likely to develop a food dependence which can lead to obesity. However other factors such as stress can induce us to reach for these “comfort foods” and before you know it your eating habits are out of control.

Don’t be fooled – Fast food and other food companies make the most of this information and ensure their foods are as attractive as possible by blending salt, sugar and fat, together with the combination of taste and smell to ensure they are enticing. Fast food often contains colour additives to make it look good and chemical flavour compounds to make it taste right. 

What you can do? Try and stay away from the foods mentioned above and in particular any personal triggers that prompt you to over eat. Stay out of fast food outlets and begin to look at food labels and the listed ingredients, particularly in processed foods. Are they high in saturated fats and sugar? If so, don’t eat them. Instead try and develop a diet that is higher in natural plant foods by including vegetables, whole fruits, beans and whole grains and introduce more white meat and fish to your diet.

There is no easy “light switch” for making these kinds of dietary changes and if you suspect you are suffering from a food addiction, we would advise you seek professional help. Further research is being conducted so we have a more thorough understanding of food addiction, a concept only just beginning to be recognised. We can help at Nutrition Mission by steering you in the right direction, providing dietary and lifestyle guidance to minimise your food cravings. Why not book an appointment with your local therapist now…

 Zoe Rowlandson BSc Nut. Med. MBANT