What are the types of eaters?

Eater types are distinguished by normal, emotional and addictive eating patterns.

Normal Eaters

Normal eaters may have problems with weight (even obesity) if they do not eat the appropriate number of calories (and exercise moderately) to maintain an ideal, healthy weight. The problem for normal eaters is primarily physical.
If they choose to eat a balanced diet, exercise moderately, and get support for lifestyle changes, they can lose unwanted weight (or gain weight) and keep their weight in a normal range. Basically, willpower works; just put down the fork and push away from the table.

Emotional Eaters

Emotional eaters often have similar problems with weight but find themselves powerless to follow directions to lose (or gain) weight and restore their health even when they want to. For those with diagnosable eating disorders, i.e. anorexia, bulimia or binge-eating disorder, the underlying problem is mental-emotional.
Emotional eaters use food to numb, seek pleasure, or soothe their feelings. What works for emotional eaters is a moderate food and exercise plan, as well as developing skills to cope with feelings.

Food Addicts

Food addicts become chemically dependent on specific foods or on food in general. The way their body processes food is bio-chemically different than that of normal eaters and emotional eaters. Many food addicts are predisposed to becoming addicted to food – especially to sugar, flour, wheat, fat, salt, caffeine, and/or excess volume to any food – just as alcoholics are predisposed to being chemically dependent on alcohol and drug addicts to heroin, cocaine or prescription drugs.
As the disease of addiction progresses, food addicts become powerless over physical cravings. They develop distortions and obsessions of the mind that keep them denying they have a problem. Diets alone don’t work for food addicts. Simple therapy alone does not work.

What are the types of eaters?
What are the types of eaters_table

What works for food addicts is to eliminate, through physical abstinence, the foods to which they are chemically dependent. In addition, they need to create experiences that help them find some positive meaning in their life to replace what has become an obsessive, almost uncontrollable worship of food above all else.
Most food addicts have weight problems – the majority are obese, though some are a normal weight and some may even be dangerously underweight. Many also have unresolved emotional trauma similar to those who are diagnosed with eating disorders, e.g. anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder.

In short, most food addicts have problems similar to those of normal eaters and emotional eaters. However, the primary treatment for the food addict must address their addiction. Successful, long-term recovery for food addicts requires abstinence coupled with deeper internal healing from trauma, boundaries around abstinent food and structured meal plans, daily mindful practices and prioritizing loving, self-nurturing behavior.

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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