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Could I be Addicted to Eating Food?

Updated: Feb 8


Is food a drug? And if so, why the bleep would I eat that cookie. 


Binge eating feels addictive. 

A sadistic cycle that I can’t seem to shake. 

So is it? 

And if so… 

Are we truly tackling Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN) in the most effective way possible? 



BED = binge eating disorder 

SUDs = substance use disorders (alcohol, drugs) 


Abstract

Now, if you don’t want to read the whole article I’ll give you a quick summary. 


Binge eating itself is not technically a food addiction, that is in fact another kind of issue. Read that article here. (1). However, we could be addicted to the TYPES of foods we binge on (high sugar high fat foods). These types of foods when consumed often act similarly to how certain types of narcotics act when used. The question then proposes itself, would treating processed sugars and fats like a drug, and cutting them out completely, help reduce binge eating episodes? I could not find any studies done on this particular scenario, and restricting any type of food for those with an ED is highly advised against. However, I believe that replacing these highly palatable binges with ones of natural foods could be the first step to gaining back control of one's life, and reducing binges in general. 


Is Binge Eating an addiction? 


Craving 


Bingeing 


Withdrawal… 



All are aspects of addiction (2), and I don’t know about you, but these feel scarily close to my own relationship with food. 


The overall consensus is that binge eating itself is not classified as an addiction, but it does share many chemical and physical similarities with other DSM-V classified addictions. Thus we will continue to explore those similarities in an attempt to analyze what’s actually happening to our brains and bodies before, during, and after a binge. 



Before, During, and After a Binge

  1. Before= Anticipation of food: release of dopamine

    1. This is why the urge to binge is so strong. Once we think of food, we want food, and our bodies release dopamine (the “motivation, feel good” hormone) so that we are more inclined to go seek out the food (3).


  2. During=Satisfaction: The μ-opioid receptors are involved

    1. Yes that’s right. OPIOID. The μ-opioid receptors are involved in the satisfying/reward aspect of binge eating palatable (high sugar high fat) foods (4).


  3. After=Withdrawal: Increased corticosterone and anxiety levels 

    1. “Palatable food can also induce withdrawal or craving for specific kinds of foods that are generally high in fat, salt, and sugar, much like that observed in drug addiction” (5).




Why might we be addicted to bingeing?


Ice cream, oreos, peanut butter, bread, crackers, cake, pizza…


What do all these popular binge foods have in common? 


SUGAR AND FAT


Components of both sugar and fat have been studied and analyzed for addictiveness, and the findings are quite shocking. 


SUGAR: is an addictive chemical! Especially when it’s super concentrated, like in processed foods. 


  • One famous study showed how rodents chose saccharin (sugar) over cocaine when they were given a choice (6).


  • “Sugar activates the opiate receptors in our brain and affects the reward center, which leads to compulsive behavior, despite the negative consequences like weight gain, headaches, hormone imbalances, and more.” (7,8).  


  • A Princeton study found that rats may become dependent on sugar, and that this dependency could be related to several aspects of addiction: cravings, bingeing, and withdrawal (2).  



FAT:is an interesting macro-nutrient. Its addictive properties are still being studied. 


  • The overall consensus is that fat-bingeing does not stimulate the opioid-like withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, distress, etc) like sugar does (9). However, similar to sugar, it is responsible for an increased dopamine “hit” before the binge (10).   


  • One study hypothesizes: “fat addiction might be more closely aligned to behavioral addiction like gambling disorder, while addiction to sugar rich food might be more closely aligned to substance use disorders.” (11). 


Food vs. Drugs: A few different research articles have pointed out the similarities in dopamine and opioid release in binge eaters and substance users. One such study even goes as far as to say, “Individuals may use drugs of abuse and highly palatable* food as a means of self-medicating a hypoactive* dopaminergic system.” (12). 


Palatable = tasty 

Hypoactive = underactive




Why is all this information even important?


I believe this information is important in addressing the question: Are we truly tackling Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN) in the most effective way possible?


In an intensive outpatient program that I attended, we were told to stop trying to restrict these “fear foods” (like junk food) that we often binged on, and instead were encouraged to try adding them back into our diet in a more moderate way. 


While I can see the logic to this, it did not help me personally in my recovery. Every time I attempted to add a “fear food” back into my diet, and allowed it into my house, I just ate all of it. And it seemed the more I tried to add in moderation, the more I binged. I did this not just once or twice, but time and time again. Thus this led me to the question, what if we treated processed sugars and fat as more of a drug than a food? Something not to be adding back to our diets, but rather stay away from. Similarly to how an alcoholic doesn’t add back alcohol “in moderation” but rather attempts to quit drinking entirely. 


I had to ask myself: Could I reduce binges by thinking of processed sugars and fats as a drug? Along with making small diet changes to reduce the processed fats and sugars I am currently eating? 


I want to note that every person that I have talked to that specializes in eating disorders would NOT RECOMMEND THIS APPROACH. I am simply recording this as something I am trying, based on logic, because the approach I just took did not work in helping me.



(I want everyone to have full information and perspectives before making decisions about restricting food). 





Lifestyle Changes I am attempting


Obviously never binge eating again would be freaking amazing. 

But that’s an unrealistic goal (right now) for those who struggle with this behavior.

Even if I cut ALL processed foods out of my life, it will (likely) not just be the cure for binge eating. 


Instead, what if I could cater my binges more towards food that didn’t give that exact addictive response? I.e. they still tasted good but weren’t high in that sugar or fat component. 

At least until one day I could eventually stop bingeing…


What foods would those even be…(I’ll name some that I like) 


  • Unsweetened yogurt with fruit 

  • Sugar free pudding 

  • Rice cakes 

  • Air popped popcorn 

  • Watermelon 

  • Seasoned vegetables

  • Jello



The only reason I think this could possibly work is because almost EVERY morning I wake up and want to go eat sugar and fat. Whether it's because that’s been a habit of mine or because there are some chemical disproportions in my brain, whatever the reason, I wake up craving brownies or chocolate or cookies or peanut butter with honey etc. 


BUT, I have started eating plain or vanilla yogurt with fruit and STRANGELY it curbs my craving JUST ENOUGH. 


My thought is, what if we REPLACED those sugary foods during our binge. I’ve binged a whole tub of fruit and PLAIN GREEK yogurt before. I didn’t feel good about myself after I ate it. But I didn’t feel AS BAD. And have you ever noticed that when you binge foods high in sugar and fat that your cravings the next day are almost WORSE? That it’s HARDER to resist the urge? After I binged the fruit and yogurt, I noticed that it didn’t make my cravings for junk food WORSE the next day. 


Obviously this knowledge alone will not cure anyone of their eating disorder, or stop them from bingeing on foods they really actually want to eat, but I CHALLENGE YOU. When you get in the binge frenzy, grab the naturally sweet things first. Have a tub of yogurt and bananas on hand. Eventually the goal is to stop binge eating foods entirely, but for now, give yourself a chance. 


Cutting out all tasty foods sounds too extreme, is there another way?


The short answer is maybe, it depends on who you are. 


I cannot discount the fact that I know people who have recovered from their eating disorder that HAVE STARTED EATING MORE “JUNK FOOD” DURING RECOVERY. I know people personally who no longer binge and purge that can eat donuts! And even crazier, can have chocolate in their house and… drum-roll please… eat it occasionally instead of all at once! So it definitely is possible. 


But what I want to know is, does this method have the highest success rate for someone who’s trying to overcome their eating disorder? Because personally, every time I reintroduce cookies into my house, despite my best intentions, they’re ALL gone within a day. 


So the short answer is, maybe. 


In the End… 


Maybe cutting out processed sugars and fats will help you stop binge eating, and allow you to get a hold of your life again. 


Maybe it will send you even further from recovery. 


Everyone’s path is different. 


See what works for you. 

See what doesn’t. 

Just don’t stop analyzing, don’t stop trying to recover. 

Everyone deserves a life where food doesn’t have such a choke hold on who you are and how you live.  


Good luck and please share your journey! Questions, progress tips, anything at all you’d like to share is welcomed on the discussion page. 


If you would like to start your journey towards recovery I have made a self-guided workbook here - coming February 2025. There will also be a nutritional book including everything I had to do regarding food to overcome my binge eating and lose weight coming April 2025.






Resources


  1. Ratković, Dragana, et al. “Comparison of binge-eating disorder and food addiction.” Journal of International Medical Research, vol. 51, no. 4, Apr. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605231171016.


  2. Avena, Nicole M., et al. “Evidence for sugar addiction: Behavioral and neurochemical 

    effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake.” Neuroscience & 

    Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 32, no. 1, Jan. 2008, pp. 20–39, 

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2007.04.019.


  3. Weinschenk, Susan. “Shopping, Dopamine, and Anticipation.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 22 Oct. 2015, 

    www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-wise/201510/shopping-dopamine-and-anticipation.


  4. Giuliano, Chiara, and Pietro Cottone. “The role of the opioid system in binge eating disorder.” CNS Spectrums, vol. 20, no. 6, 26 Oct. 2015, pp. 537–545, 

    https://doi.org/10.1017/s1092852915000668.


  5. Blanco-Gandia, M Carmen, et al. “Binge eating and psychostimulant addiction.” World Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 11, no. 9, 19 Sept. 2021, pp. 517–529, 

    https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v11.i9.517.


  6. Lenoir, M, Serre F, Cantin L, et al. Intense Sweetness Surpasses Cocaine Reward. PLoS One 2007; 2: e698. PMID: 17668074 PMCID: PMC1931610 DOI: 

    10.1371/journal.pone.0000698. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar])


  7. Mysels, MD, MBA, David J., and Maria A. Sullivan, MD, PhD. “The relationship between 

    opioid and Sugar Intake: Review of Evidence and clinical applications.” Journal of 

    Opioid Management, vol. 6, no. 6, 29 Jan. 2018, pp. 445–452, 

    https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2010.0043.


  8. Maremmani, Angelo, et al. “The Role of the Opioid System in Eating Disorders. Perspectives for New Treatment Strategies.” Research Gate, Sept. 2014, www.researchgate.net/publication/280154420_The_role_of_the_opioid_system_in_Eating_Disorders_Perspectives_for_new_treatment_strategies.


  9. Avena, Nicole M., et al. “Sugar and fat bingeing have notable differences in 

    addictive-like behavior.” The Journal of Nutrition, vol. 139, no. 3, Mar. 2009, pp. 

    623–628, https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.108.097584.


  10. Jones, Sara R., and Steve C. Fordahl. “Bingeing on high‐fat food enhances evoked dopamine release and reduces dopamine uptake in the nucleus accumbens.” Obesity, vol. 29, no. 4, 3 Mar. 2021, pp. 721–730, https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23122.


  11. Sarkar, Siddharth, et al. “Fat addiction: Psychological and physiological trajectory.” Nutrients, vol. 11, no. 11, 15 Nov. 2019, p. 2785, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11112785.


  12. Schreiber, N. et al. (2013) “The Overlap between Binge Eating Disorder and Substance Use Disorders: Diagnosis and Neurobiology.” Journal of Behavioral Addictions, U.S. 

    National Library of Medicine, 15 Oct. 2013, 

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4154572/.


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