Is my client/patient a food addict?

Does my client/patient have a food addict’s brain?

Genetics and lifestyle factors may indicate something akin to food addiction for a tiny percentage of the population. True food addiction can be defined as “clinically significant physical and psychological dependence on high fat, high sugar, and highly palatable foods.” This means addictive eating behaviour. Food Addiction is not the same as binge eating or binge eating disorder, although there are some commanilies, and it may be considered a more extreme form of binge eating disorder.

Here are criteria that may indicate food addiction:

  • Craving (all food issues have this symptom)
  • Failure to fulfill significant role obligations– leaving an infant or young child at home alone to go out and seek food; having to quit a job due to eating all day
  • Social or interpersonal problems – stopped connections with friends/relatives
  • Use physically hazardous conditions – eating out of the trash or bingeing on spoiled or uncooked food

When a person struggles with food addiction, there is significant impulsivity and compulsivity. For example, food addicts have difficulty thinking through long-term decisions; they focus on a thought until it becomes obsessive and intrusive and can only think about food.

Research on food addiction has also found that those meeting the criteria for food addiction have significantly higher body fat levels. In specific individuals with increased body fat and unique neurological and biological systems, the body fat works as a communicator to the brain and gut. In obesity, ghrelin (an appetite-stimulating hormone) does not decrease with food intake. Typically, ghrelin decreases after eating, which lets the body know it’s eaten and is now satisfied.

Similarly, obese individuals have decreased leptin receptors and, thus, chronically elevated leptin levels. Leptin is the satiety hormone. A lack of leptin sensitivity means it takes more food to feel satiated, which also increases cravings. This makes it extremely difficult to eat when hungry and stop when packed as the body cues aren’t working correctly.

It’s essential to differentiate your client/patient’s unique struggle. If food addiction is a concern, specific, proven, and effective treatment protocols must be implemented immediately.

The International School For Food Addiction Counseling and Treatment (INFACT School)’s instructors and guest speakers have a total of over 200 years of experience training counselors and medical professionals to treat those addicted to food.

New Episode: Breaking Free from Food Addiction with David Wolfe

Struggling with food cravings and addictive eating behaviors?

Episode 35 of The Food Addiction Podcast features David Wolfe, Certified Food Addiction Counselor and co-founder of SUGARx Global, sharing powerful insights on recovery.

David co-authored The Fix for Cravings with Cynthia Myers-Morrison, offering practical strategies to manage cravings and sustain long-term recovery. In this episode, he covers:

✅ Identifying food addiction patterns
✅ The role of community support and counseling
✅ Breaking through denial, shame, and guilt
✅ Removing trigger foods for lasting recovery
✅ Educating healthcare providers on food addiction

At SUGARx Global, David helps individuals understand the addictive nature of certain foods and develop a personalized path to healing. His own journey with obsessive food behaviors led him to The INFACT School, where he discovered the science behind addiction and recovery.

🎧 Listen now!

📢 Share this episode with anyone who needs hope and real solutions!

Warm regards,
Esther Helga Guðmundsdóttir
Founder, INFACT School

Tune in now!

We’re thrilled to announce the Monthly Guest Lecturer Series, featuring the biggest names and brightest minds in food addiction research and treatment! This is your chance to learn directly from the pioneers shaping the field, including:

  • Dr. Vera Tarman, MD – Renowned addiction expert and author of Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction.
  • Nicole M. Avena, PhD – Leading neuroscientist and author of Why Diets Fail, specializing in the science of food addiction.
  • Susan Peirce Thompson, PhD – New York Times bestselling author and founder of Bright Line Eating.
  • Robert H. Lustig, M.D. – World-famous endocrinologist and author of Fat Chance, known for his expertise in sugar addiction and metabolic health.

…and many other trailblazing thought leaders!

💡 Want to learn from the best? These lectures are open to everyone—no CFAP certification required!

🎓 Pricing Options:

  • $40 per individual lecture
  • $325 for a 10-lecture bundle (save $75!)

This is an incredible opportunity to hear directly from the experts driving change in how we understand and treat food addiction. Whether you're a professional or simply passionate about the topic, these lectures will empower and inspire you.

Message us to learn more!

Are you interested in discovering if you are a food addict?

The INFACT School now offers you access to a free diagnostic tool called the Yale Scale. If you’re curious to find out whether you might have a food addiction or just keen to see the self-report measure in action, you can complete the questionnaire below.

Once you complete the questionnaire, we will be in touch with the next steps to help you in your recovery process.

Complete questionnaire
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