Food Addiction What�s on the Menu:

When most people think of food addiction they think of somebody, usually obese, eating huge quantities of food with no control. In truth, this is a very narrow concept of the illness as the larger medical community recognizes it. While the definition does include obese overeaters, it also includes more common eating disorders that many are already familiar with, such as bulimia and anorexia. This affliction is, essentially, any sort of unhealthy relationship with food.

But for those who don�t suffer from this illness, it�s often difficult to comprehend why somebody would eat in ways that are destructive to their health. Why not just eat less, or eat more�consume in a way that is conducive to good health? According to some health specialists, the matter might not be as simple as that.

The causes vary depending on the specialist, but propositions have been put forth suggesting everything from moral weakness to genetic predisposition with everything from cultural pressure to a seemingly simple matter of bad-habit formation in between. Some studies have suggested that, like other substance abuse, there is a neurochemical association, in which, say for compulsive overeaters, the smell or even a sample taste of a food releases dopamine in the brain, a similar to what happens to substance abusers when they get their fix.

Essentially, it comes down to a matter of whether to classify this as true illness, or as psychological disorders. Evidence exists for it to be a case of either. Perhaps as the phenomenon is further studied and understood, it will become evident which to classify it or if that the truth is a combination of the two. Regardless, with more knowledge will come better forms of treatment.

As stands now, recovery is possible through such groups as FA (Food Addictions in Recovery Anonymous), which act as education and support groups. Those wishing to recover follow a similar 12-step recovery program as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), and FA boasts a growing number of recovering addicts with 5 to 10 years of life free of food abuse, and large number of members who can boast 1 to 2 years of the same.