Food Addiction: UPFA, Volume Addiction, and Trauma-Informed Recovery

Vanessa Kredler Author

Read this for an overview of food addiction, now often referred to ultra-processed food, sugar, or carbohydrate addiction.

Key Takeaways

Food Addiction, or Ultra-Processed Food Addiction (UPFA), is a brain adaptation where high-sugar and ultra-processed substances trigger dopamine responses similar to addictive drugs resulting in eating behaviours that continue despite negative consequences. Research also identifies Volume Addiction as a distinct phenotype where the compulsion lies in the reaching the physical sensation of over-fullness. Recovery may require a multi-modal approach including abstinence or harm reduction strategies, education, ways to manage and reduce food noise, emotional and nervous system regulation, coping skills, finding meaning, purpose and identity and community support. Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a trauma-informed therapy modality to support deeper healing of often underlying attachment wounding and trauma. From a compassionate angle, addiction is best described as a highly adaptive, protective purpose in service of survival. It helps with nervous system state regulation and protection from pain, overwhelm, and dysregulation.

Key Terms & Acronyms

• FA: Food Addiction

• UPFA: Ultra-Processed Food Addiction

• UPFs: Ultra-Processed Foods

• IFS: Internal Family Systems

• DSM-5 / ICD-11: Diagnostic Manuals (for unrecognised diagnosis context)

Is Food Addiction a Formally Recognised Diagnosis?

In our culture, we use terms like "chocaholic", “carboholic” or "sweet fix" lightly. However, if you went to your GP, you might not be taken seriously if you suggested this being a serious issue for you. Food addiction is not yet formally recognised in the DSM-5 or ICD-11.

Despite this, the evidence base is undeniable. In May 2024, the first International Food Addiction Consensus Conference in London advocated for the inclusion of Ultra-Processed Food Addiction (UPFA) in the ICD. A 2025 article using the Delphi method showed consensus among 37 global experts regarding this diagnosis. Research suggests over 20% of participants show signs of addiction, with a global prevalence of 14% in adults and 15% in young people.

What Makes Certain Foods Addictive?

According to Gearhardt et al. (2023), the most addictive substances are Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs). These are industrially produced items containing ingredients not found in home kitchens.

While natural foods usually contain either carbohydrates or fats, UPFs combine both in equal proportions. As highlighted in a 2024 National Geographic article, this makes them highly bioavailable, triggering a dopamine response similar to nicotine. This intersection of biology and industry also raises significant social justice issues regarding our food environment.

What is "Volume Addiction" in Recovery?

A critical development in our understanding of recovery is Volume Addiction. As Dr. Vera Tarman highlights in her 2025 research, "Volume addiction: introducing a novel phenotype within compulsive high-volume eating," some individuals are addicted not just to a substance, but to the sensation of physical fullness.

She suggests there are different stages of food addiction, and treatment depends on your stage. While GLP-1 medications and bariatric surgery are becoming common for late-stage cases, Kessler notes that they are best used as adjunct tools alongside dietary modification and peer support.

Substance and Process Addiction

My view is that food addiction is a substance and process addiction. It is my experience that compulsive eating accompanying this addiction is not only due to wanting to feel full, but also has dissociative qualities where trance-like eating states bring a sense of numbness and regulation.

The Overlap Between Food Addiction and Eating Disorders

Many develop "disordered" ways of eating, such as restricting, fasting, purging, or over-exercising, to control an underlying food addiction. Research by Dr Claire Wilcox shows a high correlation between food addiction, eating disorders, and obesity.

Whether the addiction or the eating disorder came first determines the treatment pathway. This nuance is explored in the 2025 research on Abstinence-based treatment of Co-Morbid Eating Disorders and UPFA.

Food Addiction and Metabolic Health

Food addiction can lead to ill metabolic health, and there is a strong correlation between food addiction and type 2 diabetes. Often, poor metabolic health is a route for people to enter recovery.

Healing the "Parts" of Addiction with IFS

In my practice, I utilise Internal Family Systems (IFS) to address the inner turmoil that people so often experience with addiction. IFS views addictive behaviours as a polarisation between two sets of "Protector" parts helping the person survive overwhelming emotional, nervous system and pain states. Examples of typical parts are:

• The Firefighter (Bingeing Part): An impulsive part that uses food to "put out the fire" of emotional pain.

• The Manager (The Inner Critic): The voice that scolds you after a binge.

• The Exile: The wounded part holding the original pain, overwhelm or strong emotions.

Instead of fighting with willpower, we use Self-Leadership to understand the positive intentions of these parts. This helps reduce inner conflict, and the "food noise" and shame that often prevents people from seeking help.

Food Addiction and Trauma

Alongside the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s definition of addiction as a “chronic medical disease" (ASAM 2019), it’s important to offer perspectives of addiction that compassionately recognise the purpose of addictive behaviours. Dr Gabor Mate has noted the need to focus on the pain underneath the addiction, and the strong correlation between addiction and trauma. Similarly, Dr Steven Porges and psychotherapist Jan Winhall view addiction as a highly adaptive survival strategy to support a person in nervous system state regulation in the name of survival with recovery focusing on supporting the person to become more familiar with their own internal states, re-establishing internal safety and regulation in recovery.

Can Food Addiction Be Fully Healed?

In her early book Food Addiction – The Body Knows (1993), Kay Sheppard describes addiction as a metabolic imbalance which requires lifelong recovery maintenance. My lived experience echoes this; while I consider myself healed in that the addiction is dormant, the biology of addiction remains and I’m unable to eat processed foods in moderation. I maintain peace through abstinence from specific trigger foods and food behaviour, and a strong commitment to a recovery lifestyle and self-care.

As Dr. Claire Wilcox notes in Rewire your Food-Addicted Brain (2025), every person is different. Whether your experience of addiction is that of an innate and long-standing brain adaptation or a behaviour acquired later in life, a ground-breaking study points to treatment pathways which include education, community support, skills building and whole food eating: There is a solution!

References & Further Reading

Delve into a Full List of Food Addiction References to learn more about the topic. 

Getting Help

Are you ready to explore your relationship with food through the lens of IFS alongside education, community support and skill building? Reach out for 1:1 sessions or group support here.

Categories: : Eating Disorders, Food Addiction