Food & Eating Addiction

What It Is

A difficulty controlling intake of certain foods.

Food addiction, while not yet defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), can be loosely described as a difficulty controlling intake of certain types of food — including sweets, starches, salty snacks, fatty foods, and sugary drinks.

Signs & Symptoms

How to recognize a food addiction.

• Eating more than planned when consuming certain foods
• Prioritizing certain foods over normal daily activities like socializing, hygiene, or sleep
• Continuing to eat certain foods even after satiation
• Going out of the way to obtain certain foods
• Constantly experiencing negative emotions related to food
• Eating to the point of physical illness
• Frequently worrying about cutting down or eliminating certain foods
• Frequently feeling sluggish or fatigued from overeating
• Avoiding social situations for fear of overeating or being unable to eat normally
• Constantly eating certain foods throughout the day
• Using food as a coping mechanism
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms after cutting down on certain foods
• Feeling significantly distressed when thinking about food or engaging in food-related behaviors
• An inability to function effectively due to food-related emotions or behaviors

Treatment At Two Dreams

How we treat food and eating addiction.

Nutrition is a key part of the recovery process at Two Dreams. Founder and CEO Dr. Andrea Barthwell created a comprehensive, evidence-based nutrition plan designed to provide natural, long-lasting energy and health benefits to every client, and staff members work with each person to build a meal plan that fits their individual dietary needs, preferences, and restrictions.

Staff also encourage clients to conduct H.A.L.T. checks — hungry, angry, lonely, tired — throughout the day as a way of staying in touch with the body. Irregular blood sugar caused by food addiction can lead to irritability or depression, which can lead to irrational actions or relapse; regular H.A.L.T. checks help clients meet their needs preemptively and handle hunger and cravings appropriately. Two Dreams provides inpatient, intensive outpatient, and outpatient services based on each individual's needs, with step-down transition programs to ease the shift out of the treatment center setting.