Do you believe in food addiction?

I dont think its physically addictive when compared to street or pharmacutical drugs, but I believe if you have one it will cause cravings for more and some of us are more succeptable to those cravings than others. In the medically term No I dont think they are physically addicting. But emotionally and mentally, absolutely. I know from personal experience I cannot have just one cookie or one chip.

I absolutely believe you can have food addiction. It is not looked upon as an addiction by most because you DO need to eat to survive, unlike say, alcohol or drugs. Some people choose food for many reasons...easily accessible...people use it a social tool..

I believe I had been using as a comfort when I was going through my divorce. It has taken it's toll and I am now trying to lose the weight that was gained during that stressful time.

I think this thread is going to end badly.

I also think that food addiction exists in the context of people eating as behavioral response to cope with issues going on in their lives, but I do not believe a person can be addicted to a specific food. I think people tend to choose highly palatable foods when eating to cope and confuse the food itself with the behavior.

I think people can also develop a habit/learned behavior of sitting down with an entire package of cookies while watching TV or doing some other activity, not paying attention to how many cookies they are eating, and then say that they are incapable of only eating one cookie and have an addiction when they could change that behavior if they make an effort to be conscious of their eating.

I think this thread is going to end badly.

I also think that food addiction exists in the context of people eating as behavioral response to cope with issues going on in their lives, but I do not believe a person can be addicted to a specific food. I think people tend to choose highly palatable foods when eating to cope and confuse the food itself with the behavior.

I think people can also develop a habit/learned behavior of sitting down with an entire package of cookies while watching TV or doing some other activity, not paying attention to how many cookies they are eating, and then say that they are incapable of only eating one cookie and have an addiction when they could change that behavior if they make an effort to be conscious of their eating.

Great comment.

There was a long thread arguing sugar as addictive the other day. Because peer reviewed studies show Sugar triggers the same dopamine and other receptors in our brains the same way as heroin nicotine cocaine etc i would tend to agree it can be classed as addictive. Since you cannot eliminate sugars from your diet (there are loads of naturally occurring ones. it really means i guess you can become addicted to the instant hit of processed sugars like say a huge bottle of pop or 12 a day
I've known some people who were definitely addicted to processed sugars for the hit (one was a 400 pound junkie now dead who I've seen go through 16 liters of pepsi and 4 cakes in a sitting when coming down
but overall no I don't think food per se can be classed addictive unless you lose a very loose definition of addictions

having had an addiction I should point out that it is very different than having a behavioral habit like sitting and eating from boredom etc. Physical addictions have real withdrawal symptoms and the actual withdrawal is usually not that long (72 hours for many) after that it's a behavioral thing (learning how to live without the habits tied to the addiction - so for food learning how to eat properly for instance) Also not all people are as easily addicted to things, Smoking as an example i had a hell of a time quitting and finally did after 40 years, my wife could take it or leave it at any point and never got addicted. our brains are just wired differently, my history tells me I'm hard wired for addictions so I have to be aware of it (I quit drinking because it was getting into the danger zone, i know in that case i will drink again it was time to break from it so i could get back to moderation and control of it - i like a glass of wine or a good cocktail too much to say never again - i needed to say not so many and none for a while 12 weeks now )

Absolutely. Morbidly obese or crack addict; it's the same difference in my opinion. No one would do that to themselves if there wasn't an addiction at work.

Morbid Obesity
http://goo.gl/YVTTkt

NO
If a drug addict stops using drugs, are they cured of the addiction? What if they just do less of the drug or just do the drugs occasionally, are they still considered an addict?

Can someone addicted to food quit eating, will they be cured of their addiction? What if they eat less or just eat occasionally, are they still considered an addict? How can a food addiction be broken?

Some smokers and drinkers who are addicted can learn to use these substances in moderation. Yet, no one questions that those substances are addictive.

Absolutely. Morbidly obese or crack addict; it's the same difference in my opinion. No one would do that to themselves if there wasn't an addiction at work.

Morbid Obesity
http://goo.gl/YVTTkt

sigh.
Not the "crack addiction" again.

Not particularly no...

I think it's become acceptable to just apply the word addiction to anything where people have difficulty with self control...it's easier than taking personal responsibility; unfortunately, that's the age we live in...

I do believe the people can have problems with food, etc...but perhaps people should be looking more to the underlying cause of those issues rather than just chalking it up to yet another addiction.

Similarly, I do not believe in sex addiction (I know a guy who claims this and even has his wife convinced that he just can't keep his pole in his pants because he's just "addicted") and I do not believe in gambling addiction, etc. Again, I think people can have issues here and very real problems...but "problem" doesn't necessarily equate to "addiction."

I know some people think that you cannot be addicted to food because it is essential for survival and not something you can quit , but I 100% believe that sugary, fatty, and salty junk foods are addictive.
What do you think?

I think humans are extremely good at inventing stories that absolve them of personal responsibility.

How does addiction remove personal responsibility?

When did we agree they were addicted?

There is a difference being claiming and being.

I know some people think that you cannot be addicted to food because it is essential for survival and not something you can quit , but I 100% believe that sugary, fatty, and salty junk foods are addictive.
What do you think?

I think humans are extremely good at inventing stories that absolve them of personal responsibility.

How does addiction remove personal responsibility?

When did we agree they were addicted?

There is a difference being claiming and being.

Perhaps I misunderstood your post, I inferred that you were saying people claim addiction as a means to absolve them of personal responsibility. Which made me wonder how being addicted (whether real or imagined) would absolve one of personal responsibility.

Is a crack addict that chooses to smoke crack not still responsible for that action?

Perhaps I misunderstood your post, I inferred that you were saying people claim addiction as a means to absolve them of personal responsibility. Which made me wonder how being addicted (whether real or imagined) would absolve one of personal responsibility.

Is a crack addict that chooses to smoke crack not still responsible for that action?

I see there being two kinds of responsibility - the kind imposed from the outside (i.e., "the law") and the kind we impose on ourselves ("It's not my fault, I can't help but eat that pop tart"). The former can't be avoided no matter what kind of internal rationalizations we create - the second one can.

I think this thread is going to end badly.

I also think that food addiction exists in the context of people eating as behavioral response to cope with issues going on in their lives, but I do not believe a person can be addicted to a specific food. I think people tend to choose highly palatable foods when eating to cope and confuse the food itself with the behavior.

I think people can also develop a habit/learned behavior of sitting down with an entire package of cookies while watching TV or doing some other activity, not paying attention to how many cookies they are eating, and then say that they are incapable of only eating one cookie and have an addiction when they could change that behavior if they make an effort to be conscious of their eating.

"I also think that food addiction exists in the context of people eating as behavioral response to cope with issues going on in their lives ..."

I think that's pretty much addictive behavior in general.