Food addiction: How to determine if you are also affected
Julia Wójcik
2026-03-25
3 min. read
39
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What images come to mind when you hear the word "addict"? You likely picture an individual dependent on alcohol, losing consciousness after excessive consumption, or a drug user fixated on white powder with bloodshot eyes. Perhaps you also think of cannabis smokers immersed in a state of relaxation to the sounds of reggae music. But have you ever considered that compulsive overeating can be just as powerful an addiction as alcoholism or drug dependency?
It's an eating disorder
Unfortunately, the percentage of compulsive eaters who struggle with addiction is very low because we give social permission to eat because if you happen to drink too much and it's not the first time, sooner or later, one of your friends will point out to you and suggest that you step in. Also, in the case of smoking, there will always be someone who will say no to this addiction, you're wasting your diet. So instead of just one drink, we can give ourselves up.
How can we combat food addiction?
Treatment for people who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder involving compulsive reaching for food has to take place in a number of areas. First, we have to confront the problem, that is, we need to observe it, along with all the consequences that affect our quality of life. Then, we must make a conscious decision about wanting to quit and want to start treatment.