Could You Be Addicted To Food?

Keep me away from the chips! That was my motto when I was obese but trying to be “good.” Honestly, the cheese and crackers weren’t much better.

Once I started, I couldn’t stop.

It didn’t matter if I was full. It didn’t matter who was at the party. It didn’t matter if I even tasted the chips or cheese.

The truth was I was addicted.

Understanding my specific struggles with overeating meant I could make changes that actually helped me stop overeating.

If you pay close attention to what you’re eating and still have trouble moderating it, it might be an addiction.

Is It a Food Addiction?

So many of our “foods” especially the ultra-processed ones are designed to keep us eating. The fact you have trouble stopping with a normal serving size of chips, fries, or ice cream isn’t due to a lack of willpower. It’s by design, and it’s also true that some people struggle more than others.

Food is not always recognized as a true addiction, but there is growing evidence that many people overeat compulsively in ways that just aren’t healthy.

So how do you tell if it’s a food addiction? The Yale Food Addiction Scale helps identify food addictions with questions like:

• I ate to the point where I felt physically ill
• I spent a lot of time feeling sluggish or tired from overeating
• Attempts at moderation left me numbing myself until I could have more
• When I cut down on or stopped eating certain foods, I was miserable

You’d answer each of the questions (and there are more) based on how frequently it happened in the last year.

Recognizing an addiction can help you choose how to move forward in a way that’s more likely to work.

Other Reasons for Overeating

Food addiction isn’t the only cause of overeating. Many people turn to food when they are sad, lonely, or bored. They snack while watching TV. In these cases, overeating might be classified as emotional eating or mindless eating.

Sound like you? Are You Eating Your Feelings?

To be clear, emotional eating can be a sign of eating addiction, especially if you need to eat more and more to get the emotional relief you want. But other people eat to meet emotional needs without addiction.

The result of emotional or mindless eating is the same as with an eating addiction — you eat too much. And you probably beat yourself up about it. I promise, that doesn’t help.

Here’s the good news! I’m not going to give you a diet. No calorie counting. No bad foods list. I have one tool that can help everyone and one that you might want to consider if you think you have a food addiction.

Stop Trying to Moderate

If you have a food addiction, the first step is realizing the problem. Like I said, I didn’t understand for years that I was addicted to cheese. I ate compulsively and often had more than I wanted. I had cravings when I stopped eating it. I spent way too much time thinking about cheese.

Does that sound kind of familiar (even if it’s a different food for you)?

It might be time to think about abstinence. Obviously you can’t abstain from all foods, but you can cut out the ones that you struggle to eat in moderation.

Mindful Eating for the Win

Mindful eating helps you stop overeating. If I say mindful eating, and you picture mediating on a cushion, let’s back up.

Mindful eating is simply eating with awareness — no judgement.

When you eat mindfully, you get more familiar with your body’s hunger and satiety signals. You get better at stopping when your body has had enough (even when it tastes so good).

The good news is that mindful eating also brings more enjoyment to whatever you’re eating. And that can help you feel satisfied with a smaller amount.

You might even realize that a food you think you love isn’t all that. Maybe you’re eating to tie to a memory or emotion or feel like a part of something. When you eat mindfully, you might realize you don’t want that cake or those fries.

I explain more in this video: Are You Hungry?

Non judgmental and focused awareness can transform not just how you eat, but how you experience life!

I used to struggle with compulsive overeating, but mindful eating helped me stop, lose weight, and create a healthy, vibrant life. Now I help people do the same.
If you’re tired of feeling heavy, bloated, tired, uncomfortable in your body, and ashamed of your eating, let’s shift things. I believe self-compassion is part of the solution, and there’s not failure, only teaching moments.

Learn more about my Move From Cravings To Clarity With Mindful Eating. You don’t need more willpower—you need a new approach.

I can help you get start or re-engage with mindful eating to make real change in your relationship with food. Curious? Schedule a free consultation to see if it’s a good fit.