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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