Signs You Have Food Addiction

If you’re looking for more information on signs you have a food addiction, you’ve come to the right place.  Not only will this article relay signs you have a food addiction, but it will also give you a more well-rounded understanding of exactly what food addiction is.

Sometimes referred to as compulsive overeating, food addiction is characterized by an obsessive/compulsive relationship to food.  Left untreated, food addiction can lead to serious medical conditions including, but not limited to; high cholesterol, heart disease, hypertension, major depression, sleep apnea, and diabetes.  Additionally, food addiction can have long-term side effects which include; kidney disease, bone deterioration, strokes, and arthritis.

Signs of Food Addiction

The following are signs you have food addiction as well as symptoms of the disorder:

  • Eating alone due to feeling shameful or embarrassed
  • Depression and/or mood swings
  • A history of weight fluctuations
  • Eating uncontrollably even when not physically hungry
  • Consuming food much more rapidly than normal
  • Eating little in public while maintaining a high body weight
  • Withdrawal from activities due to weight embarrassment
  • A history of many different, unsuccessful diets
  • Extremely low self-esteem and feeling a need to eat greater and greater amounts

You Can and Deserve to Get Help

Similar to drugs that people find themselves addicted too, highly palatable foods have the ability to trigger feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine.  The reward signals from highly palatable foods may override other signals of fullness and satisfaction resulting in people continuing to eat even when not hungry.

Additionally, people who show signs of food addiction have a tendency to develop a certain level of tolerance to food.  This results in them eating more and more only to find themselves satisfied less and less.

The good news is, The Delray Center Healing can help regardless of your addiction.  If you, or someone you know, are in need of any type of addiction treatment, contact The Delray Center for Healing today.