Food And Drug Addictions: What are the Similarities?
Both food and drug addictions can have devastating effects on people’s lives. In this way, they are obviously similar. The methods used to treat the two different types of addictions can also at times show striking similarities. However, there are other facets, both of the addiction process itself and of its treatment, where food and drug addictions are very dissimilar.
Wide-Ranging Addiction Effects
Both Drug and Food addictions can have a profound effect on many parts of an addict’s life. It can seriously damage a person’s physical health and have a profound effect on their lifestyle. (more…)
January 27, 2008
Food Addiction Symptoms: Do You Recognize These?
The symptoms of food addiction are caused by a person’s obsession with food. Examples of food addictions are bulimia, anorexia, and compulsive eating, each of which has its own group of symptoms. Every aspect about food is fascinating to the food addict.
The anticipation, eating of and availability of food are aspects about which a food addict will obsess. Other concerns about food that are obsessed about include the amount of food eaten, serving sizes, body weight and image. The food addict may not even realize they are obsessing about food, although the people around the person may recognize that something is not right, even if they do not recognize the symptoms of food addiction.
The earlier that the symptoms of food addiction are recognized, the easier it will be to treat the addiction. This is because the more deeply a person’s obsession grows, the more difficult it is to shake the person free of their obsession. (more…)
January 25, 2008
Food Addiction and Obesity: the Relationship
Scientists are seeing similarities between food addiction and obesity and are now considering that obesity can be caused by food addiction. The same symptoms that accompany food addictions are observed in cases of obesity. At the core of food addiction and obesity is an unhealthy relationship with food.
A Complex Relationship with Food
Food addiction symptoms that occur with obesity relate to how a food is used, why it is used and how the food behavior makes the person feel. Food addicts have deep feelings that are involved in their relationship with food, have a problem controlling the amount of food eaten and have a love-hate relationship with food.
The types of feelings that accompany obesity and food addiction are guilt, self-loathing, secrecy about eating and depression. (more…)