discussion on food addiction

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I’ve been following the conversation on addiction to

certain foods and wanted to share my views. I appreciate the conversation and

all that you have shared, I know this is a difficult topic. I will give you my

professional (and personal) opinion about this below. Of course, it’s

simply that – my opinion and others have differing views and I respect

that.

I am going to ask that the topic of food addiction come to a

close. You are more than welcome to take the topic off-list, I’m not

trying to censor anyone. However, I believe the continuation of this discussion

can bring up some serious diet mentality in our members, including those that

lurk but don’t post. There are a lot of others out there that get their

support by reading what others share. So if you could, let’s wrap this up

and move on to what you can change about your relationship with food, not on

things that feel uncontrollable. Our thoughts lead to our results and

discussions of addiction, powerlessness, abstinence from particular foods, etc.

lead to negative thoughts and therefore negative results. Tribole often reminds

her clients that the key is to focus on the inwardly on thoughts, feelings,

etc. instead of the external like weight, dieting, and focusing on WHAT you eat

(instead of WHY).

Everyone’s process and journey is different and I am

not here to tell anyone they are wrong, far from it. I’m just acting

based on my experience and what I know about many of our members in this group.

I hope you can understand that.

Here’s my opinion on food addiction. What I am posting

below is something I shared in an Intuitive Eating Professionals’ group about

8 months ago. We had a very lengthy conversation about food addiction. There

were differing opinions but I think we all agreed that using the term is not

appropriate or helpful for many people dealing with food issues. I hope this is

helpful and I certainly welcome your questions or feedback on this, but let’s

move beyond the addiction conversation or take it off-list. J

The

question that started the conversation was, “I would be very interested

in learning what the members of this group think of ‘food addiction’.”

My answer: This is

a great question. I hear all the time that someone is " addicted " to

sugar, carbs, food, whatever. I believe we have to be careful about the words

we use when talking to clients or patients. Even if it fits the clinical

definition of addiction (which I have no idea if it does or not), continuing to

use the word will just reinforce the thought and make it harder to overcome.

I also

think that addiction isn't a helpful word since emotional overeating can't be

" treated " in the same manner as an addiction. You can't abstain from

food, or even " binge " foods since they are usually white flour and/or

sugar. I know there are approaches that try this and they work for some people,

but I've had many people work with me after having a really bad experience with

a group that uses an addiction recovery model.

I used

to think years ago that I was addicted to sugar. And it felt like it because I

always wanted sugar, day and night. And of course I ate it day and night. But

what I learned from Intuitive Eating was I could have a certain amount of sugar

(an amount that honored my body without feeling sick) and I would still feel

good and not continue to have the cravings. My clients have had the same

experience.

This is

what I wrote after another professional talked about the clinical definition of

addiction:

Thank

you very much for your detailed explanation of addiction. It was very

interesting and thought-provoking. And, I absolutely agree with you that

addiction is about filling a void and lack of coping skills. I don't doubt that

eating disorders or disordered eating have the same characteristics as

addictions to other things. It makes sense.

My concern is the use of the word with our patients or

clients. The word addiction definitely has a stigma attached to it and for some

it is the sign of failure or weakness. I believe we have to look at it from the

patient or client's point of view, regardless of what the accurate clinical

term may be.

I was a compulsive overeater from the age of 8 until

my early 30's when I learned about Intuitive Eating. I have also unfortunately

experienced addiction first hand. In my experience, the two felt very different

to me. And the way I dealt with both were different. With both I felt out of

control and that was why I sought help. With the addiction, I learned that what

was happening was a chemical thing and there was a treatment for it, which I

used and thankfully, it worked. Of course I also needed to deal with my reasons

for why it got out of control and why the addiction happened, and there's no

doubt the reasons were similar to reasons for overeating, but with a much

higher level of stress. Bottom line, I felt I could not take care of it on my

own, I needed some kind of physiological as well as psychological help. And I

felt extremely guilty and like an outcast.

Overcoming the compulsive overeating was very

different for me and took much longer of course. But with Intuitive Eating, I

learned that it was in MY power to overcome this problem. I made my own

decisions and I was responsible for the consequences of those decisions, good

or bad. I overcame the disordered eating because I became empowered and learned

how to be in touch with my body and how to fill the void by getting my needs

met. If I had been told I had an addiction, for me at least, I could have easily

slipped into the victim mentality and increased the self-hatred and guilt that

I already had.

I have observed that many people outside of the health

field (and even some in the field) view addiction in a negative light and see

it as a character flaw. My clients might (by clinical definition) have an

" addiction " , but I would never say that to them and I certainly don’t

approach is as an addiction. I also encourage them to not use the word

addiction either.

This is just my opinion and I really respect everyone

here and all your opinions as well. We are making a difference and the more we

join together the better it's going to get!

Thanks!

Gillian

Gillian Hood-son, MS, ACSM

Get your report, " The 6 Steps to Guilt-Fr*e Eating " at http://www.HealthierOutcomes.com

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