Is food addiction real?
Food addiction is not (yet) recognised in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), the two manuals that clinicians use to diagnose conditions. But it can be diagnosed through self-assessment questionnaires such as the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), and mounting research shows that food addiction is a reality for many people.
Below are the YFAS questions to help you understand if you may have a food addiction.
Do these food addiction symptoms resonate with you?
In the last year...
• I ate to the point where I felt physically ill.
• I spent a lot of time feeling sluggish or tired from overeating.
• I avoided work, school or social activities because I was afraid I would overeat there.
• If I had emotional problems because I hadn’t eaten certain foods, I would eat those foods to feel better.
• My eating behavior caused me a lot of distress.
• I had significant problems in my life because of food and eating. These may have been problems with my daily routine, work, school, friends, family, or health.
• My overeating got in the way of me taking care of my family or doing household chores.
• I kept eating in the same way even though my eating caused emotional problems.
• Eating the same amount of food did not give me as much enjoyment as it used to.
• I had such strong urges to eat certain foods that I couldn’t think of anything else.
• I tried and failed to cut down on or stop eating certain foods.
• I was so distracted by eating that I could have been injured (e.g., when driving a car, crossing the street, operating machinery).
• My friends or family are/were worried about how much I (over)eat.
Eating Disorders
In my experience, many people who have food addiction will identify as also struggling with some forms of disordered eating, for example binge eating disorder, bulimia, anorexia, or other eating disorders. Obesity is also often present when somebody presents with a food addiction.
Research now confirms that there is a clear overlap between food addiction, eating disorders and obesity.
Do you identify with having disordered eating?
Here are just a few questions from the EDE-Q questionnaire that will help you to identify a possible eating disorder, such as binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa or anorexia:
• Have you been deliberately trying to limit the amount of food you eat to influence your shape or weight (whether or not you have succeeded)?
• Have you gone for long periods of time (8 waking hours or more) without eating anything at all in order to influence your shape or weight?
• Has thinking about food, eating or calories made it very difficult to concentrate on things you are interested in (for example, working, following a conversation, or reading)?
• Has thinking about shape or weight made it very difficult to concentrate on things you are interested in (for example, working, following a conversation, or reading)?
• Over the past 28 days, how many times have you made yourself sick (vomit) as a means of controlling your shape or weight?
• Over the past 28 days, how many times have you taken laxatives as a means of controlling your shape or weight?
How do we work with food addiction & How do eating disorders play a role?
A journey towards sustainable lifestyle shifts…
Finding your unique recovery truth…
The Key is to stay Patient, open And curious in Finding your own Personal Truth And Recovery Path.
Taking a 'Two Lane Approach'
Lane One
Lane Two
Acknowledgement of Country
I recognise the history, culture, diversity and value of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and acknowledge their Elders past and present.
I acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded, and support reconciliation, justice and the recognition of the ongoing living culture of all First Nations people by providing welcoming and culturally informed services.
Embracing inclusivity and diversity, I also support a culture of inclusion, respect, choice, voice and diversity and am committed to supporting all people to be mentally well and engaged in their communities.