Dear Dr. Garner,
I am so upset about my son. He is a good-looking boy but he weighs about 250 pounds and is only 5 feet 5 inches tall.
He can’t keep his weight down and he always wants food. It’s almost as though he is addicted. If he doesn’t have it, he starts to act crazy.
Can you please help my family?
Food Addicted in Astoria
Dear Food Addicted,
It is quite possible that your son is addicted to food, particularly foods that have excessive sugar, fat and salt. This behavior may be carried out in spite of the fact that he knows he is causing harm to himself.
Food addiction is very similar to drug addiction. It can cause physical problems and serious diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Some people can’t control themselves around food.
When scientists studied the brains of those addicted to food, the area of the brain that gets stimulated is the same as in drug addiction. Food triggers a “feel good” situation as the brain produces “happy” chemicals. Foods full of salt, sugar and fat override the brain’s attempt to make a person feel full. These symptoms mimic other addictions. Eating disorders related to food addiction include bulimia, binge eating and compulsive overeating.
When your son eats food, particularly processed foods, there is an area in the brain that gets stimulated and makes him want to eat more. As with other addictions, it is not about lack of willpower, but a chemical imbalance in the brain.
There is no specific test for food addiction and many people do not believe it is real. Several studies have demonstrated that it is a real entity.
Some of the symptoms associated with food addiction are:
- Feeling hungry and craving food despite the fact that you’re feeling full and just finished eating a meal.
- Eating to the point of feeling ill.
- Feeling guilty after eating junk food.
- Repeatedly tried to quit without success.
- Hiding your craving for un-healthful foods from others.
- Lack of control about consuming unhealthful foods.
Addiction is a very strong word and very serious topic. Many people believe that the addicted person is a malingerer. This is not fair to the truly addicted person. Again, studies have shown that food addicts have similar behavior patterns as drug addicts. They can’t be given junk food or will relapse. Complete abstinence is the best path to recovery.
It’s difficult to completely avoid junk foods. The addict has to make the decision to stay away from them. It is important to know which foods trigger addiction. A person can make a list and then avoid these foods completely. Plan out what healthy foods a person finds appealing and then stock up on these foods.
Don’t worry about weight loss for now. It is more important to worry about avoiding junk food.
It may be impossible to quit without professional help and often a psychologist along with medication is necessary to treat the addiction. There are support groups, such as Overeaters Anonymous, that can help your son. I suggest you look into such organizations on the Internet and attend a meeting.
The person who is addicted has a hard time controlling what he or she eats. One does not have to be obese to be food addicted. Thin people can have the problem as well.
Finally, here are some questions you can ask to evaluate a suspected food addict:
- Do you eat more than you planned?
- Do you eat foods even when you are not hungry?
- Do you eat to the point of feeling ill?
- Do you worry about cutting down on certain foods?
- Do you go out of your way to obtain certain foods?
Answering “yes” to any of these questions may indicate a problem.
Thank you for writing in and I hope you will help your son to win his battle against this addiction.
Dr. Garner is a Fidelis Care provider who is affiliated with New York Methodist Hospital, Park Slope. He also hosts “Ask the Doctor” on NET TV, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Time Warner Channel 97, Cablevision Channel 30 and Verizon FiOS on Demand.
