Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 20, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • Just like people develop an addiction to alcohol and drugs, they can also become addicted to food.
  • Food addiction is a real behavioral disorder characterised by overconsumption of food due to a higher chemical dependency on palatable foods.
  • Because it is one of the lesser-known types of addictions, people suffering from it are falsely labelled as lacking control and self-discipline.
Reading time: 8 min

Just like people develop an addiction to alcohol and drugs, they can also become addicted to food. Food addiction is a real behavioral disorder characterised by overconsumption of food due to a higher chemical dependency on palatable foods. Because it is one of the lesser-known types of addictions, people suffering from it are falsely labelled as lacking control and self-discipline. However, in reality, people with food addiction are at no fault of their own as this addiction is attributed to the way certain food items activate the reward system and pleasure in the brain, similar to the effects of drugs.

The nature of food addiction can force the afflicted to compulsively overindulge in food consumption and lose control over how much they eat, which is followed by feelings of shame, depression, and self-hatred. Unfortunately, most cultures across the world do not make it any easier for these people as they are called lazy, overindulgent and lacking willpower. The stigma and shame associated with the condition can make seeking treatment impossible and embarrassing. However, many addiction treatment centres now offer specialised programs to deal with food addiction in a non-judgmental and private environment.

Everybody has some guilty pleasure foods that they often crave. But at what point do these occasional cravings turn into problematic behaviours controlled by underlying chemical dependencies?

Mentioned below are some common signs and symptoms of food addiction that make the problem easier to identify:

  • Obsessively thinking about food all the time
  • Overeating past fullness
  • Anticipating rewards from overeating
  • Eating large amounts of food (up to 15000 calories in some cases) in a relatively shorter duration of time
  • Overindulging in food despite the negative consequences on body weight and general health
  • A Failure to adhere to any dietary restrictions
  • Practising entirely different eating habits in public places versus when alone
  • Experiencing anxiety, irritability, and panic attacks if food is not available
  • Losing control after eating a trigger food
  • Feeling relieved and comfortable while eating
  • Experiencing intense feelings of self-hatred and depression after binge eating episodes

If you suspect that you or someone close to you is displaying the symptoms mentioned above, know that help for food addicts is widely available in the UK through different rehab centres.

Overcoming food addiction requires a multi-step approach mentioned below:

Intake Assessment

Most rehabs offer an intake assessment to all individuals interested in joining an addiction treatment program. This evaluation is comprehensive and confidential. Every client has their own unique story and reason for seeking help, and an expert conducting the assessment enquires about these aspects. The evaluation also comprises initial stabilisation, a medical history review, a physical exam, and a comprehensive interview. This information is then utilised to form a tailored plan for each client.

The intake assessment also allows the multidisciplinary teams at a rehab to check the severity of food addiction, rule out any co-occurring disorders, and create a roadmap using food addiction recovery programs.

Choosing a Program

The data collected through intake assessment helps the food addiction experts to recommend a program that best suits every patient. Most rehabs generally offer the following levels of care in this context:

  • Inpatient treatment program
  • Outpatient treatment program
  • Residential treatment program
  • Extended-day treatment program
  • Transitional living program
  • Partial hospitalisation program

Customised Treatment Plans

This is the stage that mainly focuses on recovery. The treatment programs curated by experts are personalized to meet the unique goals of every client who walks through rehab to seek support. The treatment incorporates different traditional and innovative approaches to food addiction healing, including cognitive behavioral therapy, holistic techniques, and other effective treatment processes.

If you think that you or a dear one is living with a possible food addiction, do not wait another day. Aim for recovery and choose a rehab offering treatment to make it possible. Get in contact with our food addiction treatment specialist today for more information.

Therapy for food addiction can help an individual lose weight by reducing the frequency of binge behaviours and addressing any psychological issues related to the condition. These therapies are conducted under the supervision of a food addiction therapist and include the following:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT technique helps teach people with food addiction how their feelings and thoughts can impact their behavior. This therapeutic approach aims to achieve moderation instead of complete abstinence and avoidance. As a part of this therapy, clients are taught how to cope with cravings while practising long-term sobriety with minimised risk of relapse.

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

DBT was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder but is now used commonly for overcoming addictions. Through this therapy, clients can learn how to regulate their emotions, improve relationships, and tolerate stress, minimising the desire to eat food as a stress-reliever.

Nutritional Counseling

Dieticians or nutritional counselors teach people suffering from food addiction about cultivating healthy eating habits. Because food is essential for survival, no one can abstain from it the way they do in a recovery program for drug addiction. Hence, the goal of this counseling is to focus on eating healthily.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Many people binge-eat to cope with life’s daily stressors, such as issues in their relationships. Hence, many rehabs offer interpersonal psychotherapy to teach them healthy communication skills and enhance the quality of their support system.

Some rehabs supporting food addiction offer medications to reduce the symptoms. Some common ones among these medications include the following:

Topiramate

It is an anticonvulsant drug usually prescribed to manage seizures. However, it also plays a role in reducing binge eating episodes.

Antidepressants (SSRIs)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medications are also hypothesised to reduce the number of binge eating episodes. It is possibly due to the improvement of mood caused by these drugs in addition to the reduction in the negative feelings that often trigger binge eating.

Lisdexamfetamine (Dimesylate)

This stimulant medication is usually prescribed for the management of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, it also helps reduce appetite and has been approved by the FDA for treating moderate to severe binge-eating disorders.

FAQs

What is the difference between food addiction and binge eating?
Food addiction and binge eating disorder are loosely used interchangeably; however, both represent very different issues. Food addiction describes a biochemical dependency on foods, especially those high in sugar, sodium, and fat, as these substances carry high addiction potential. The disorder is similar to binge eating, in which people frequently engage in episodes of uncontrollably high food consumption. The difference between these two issues is in the chemical dependency of a food addict on certain foods. When people suffering from food addiction do not get highly palatable meals, they tend to experience withdrawal symptoms, such as distortion of needs, physical cravings, and manic tendencies. These withdrawal effects can be so severe that they may force the victims to steal or lie just to satisfy their cravings.
What happens if I do not get help with food addiction?
If no food addiction treatment is sought in time, it may result in various long-term psychological and physical problems, including:
 
The development of other mental health disorders related to food, like bulimia nervosa
Obesity, that leads to other health risks, such as heart attacks, diabetes, cancer, etc.
Long-term anxiety and depression
Intense feelings of shame and isolation
Breakdown of relationships with friends, families, and spouse
Developing other types of addiction, such as drug and alcohol addiction
Is there a therapy for food addiction?
It is definitely possible to overcome food addiction, though it may not be “cured” with a single course of therapy. However, treatment can help you bring this issue into remission and assist in repairing any social, economic, and psychological damage.
The goals of a typical treatment plan include:
Reducing episodes of overeating
Encouraging weight loss, if needed
Addressing other associated issues, such as low self-esteem and shame
The care plan for food addiction is similar to any other type of addiction. It typically includes counseling sessions and involvement in support groups to reduce cravings and minimise relapses. Sometimes, medications may also be prescribed to suppress appetite and reduce binge-eating episodes.
What does food addiction withdrawal look like?
When people think of withdrawal symptoms, they imagine substance abuse. However, food addiction has its own set of withdrawal symptoms that may include:
Headaches
Insomnia
Periodic cravings
Confused thinking
Excessive sleepiness
Some people may not develop any withdrawal symptoms, while others acquire them in the most severe forms. These symptoms are likely to vary from one person to another, based on the individual’s body chemistry and the preferred foods eaten.
Although these withdrawal symptoms mostly appear when a person detoxes from certain foods, they are not always due to the food addiction itself. In fact, many people develop underlying health conditions as a consequence of their food addiction, which also contributes to these symptoms.

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