41. Food is a mood altering substance

By Tom O'Connell

Years ago it was predicted by experts on food addiction that this would be an increasing problem during the 1990s. And it is. But today the situation is complicated by the reality that many medications prescribed to help people achieve emotional health may also increase weight. Huge numbers of people are taking these pills.

However, in this essay I'm concentrating on food problems linked to addiction. In alcoholism recovery, food addiction can conflict with a person's ability to achieve sobriety and maintain it. Unfortunately, if self-esteem lowers, the risk of relapse increases.

An excellent session on this subject was presented at Beech Hill Hospital in New Hampshire by Kay Sheppard, a widely recognized eating disorders counselor and vice president of food addiction programs at Heritage Health Corporation in Florida.

Sheppard linked alcoholism and food addiction, saying they are two sides of the same coin. Like alcoholism, food addiction creates irritability, anger and pain. And just as alcoholics often mention hiding their bottles, food addicts often hide their sweets. Citing another link with alcoholism, she said 90 percent of her food addiction patients reported being in co-dependent relationships with close family members who were alcoholics. 

Food addiction is obsession with food and weight, and loss of control over the amount eaten, she explained. "It's an abused substance and operates in the brain as a mood-alterer." The most popular addictive foods fall into the category of "sticky, pasty and greasy." Chuckling, she said, "Doughnuts have it all!"

She stressed the addictive impact of refined foods. "Alcohol is distilled, and sugar goes through a refining process similar to heroin, fits all the criteria for a drug, and doesn't fit the criteria for food because it supplies so little in nutrients other than calories."

Food obsession follows a pattern., according to Sheppard. The food addict focusses thoughts on food, and this leads to food-related behavior. "We follow our thoughts," said Sheppard. "We play them out and eat to satisfy the thoughts. If we eat a lot, we gain weight. And then we become obsessed with weight loss."

In attempts to deal with their problem, Sheppard said the behavior of food addicts is summed up in this phrase: "I know I have the answer and I know it will work." For a while, the new behavior does work. But soon the addiction takes hold again.

Behaviors regularly engaged in by food addicts include:

•     Self-induced vomiting.

•     Use of laxatives.

•     Use of diuretics.

•     Dieting and fasting.

•     Vigorous exercise.

"Weight is not the problem," said Sheppard. "The weight gain is the symptom of the disease. Both thin people and fat people can be food addicts."

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