Frequent Food Cravings
Cravings and hunger are two different things.
Hunger is the absence of fullness or having an empty stomach.
Cravings are when you have an intense desire to eat a certain food.
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They may occur even when you arent hungry or have just eaten.
For example, you crave cookies despite having eaten a complete, filling meal.
However, with food addiction, this happens more than occasionally.
Not eating the desired or craved food may promote depressive or anxious feelings to develop.
Thus, the craving for a mood booster via food follows, and a vicious cycle unfolds.
Over time, they require a larger amount of food to achieve the same feeling.
When they finally cut back, they may experience withdrawal symptoms, similar to substance use disorder.
This may include physical, mental, emotional, and/or behavioral symptoms.
Eating to avoid potential withdrawal symptoms is common and prolongs the food addiction.
What Is a Food Addiction?
Risk factors for food addiction include:
What Mental Health Diagnoses Are Considered Food Addictions?
Some of the most common include binge eating disorder,bulimia nervosa, andcompulsive overeating.
Binge Eating Disorder
There may be overlap in some eating disorders and food addiction.
Professional Treatment Options
It may be too difficult to overcome food addiction on your own.
Professional resources and options are available.
Working with a team of qualified healthcare professionals can make all the difference during treatment and recovery.
Though they may overlap in some areas, food addiction and binge eating disorder are not the same thing.
Tips to help overcome food addiction include identifying and avoiding triggers and planning meals and snacks.
Working with healthcare professionals or support groups can help aid you in overcoming food addiction.
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