food addiction
... as the addict suffers, the entire family suffers. That is why addiction professional consider treatment of the family to be an integral part of the treatment of addiction. The effects of addiction on the family are widespread. When we look at the families of addicts, we see a marked increase in diverse domestic violence, child abuse, depression, anxiety and general medical problems. Spouses of the addicts tend to be more depressed and have more medical complains. Children raised in the families with addicts exhibit a range of problem; poor conduct and academic achievement, delinquency, low self esteem and depression. Adults who grew up in such families suffer from depression and social anxiety and have difficulty in relationships. The primary task will no longer be the promotion of the emotional growth and well being of its members, but has become one of dealing with the addiction and coping with the addict’s behavior. D. Tools of recovery : A. Identify and eliminate suspected food allergens - paying high attention to gluten (wheat, rye, oats etc), sugar and milk products. Totally eliminating these products will enable us to live relatively free cravings. B. Avoid stimulants like caffeinated drink, cigarettes and amphetamines. C. Get 60min of moderate or moderately intense exercise every day. D. Distract yourselves. “Take yourself out of the situation for some time”. Then if you still want what ever it is you are craving, have a small amount. E. Choose healthy substitutes like fat free ice cream, sugar free ice cream light yogurt, baked tortilla chips. F. Relax with breathing exercises or meditation. G. Avoid situations that trigger your cravings. H. Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. “Often hunger is a signal we are thirsty”. I. Meetings give us an opportunity to share our experience, strength, hope with others who are also trying to recover from food addiction. J. Prayer is a powerful tool that is available to everyone, any time any where. Making conscious contact with our higher power on a daily basis is an important part of recovery. K. The telephone is the way to avoid the isolation that is so common among us. It is a tool where we learned to reach out, ask for help and extend help. E. Statistics : A. Obesity overtaking smoking as America’s number one killer – obesity was the cause of 400,000 deaths. 64% of Americans are overweight or obese. If obesity continues to rise, by the year 2020, 20% of all health care spending will be on obesity related diseases and conditions. B. Obesity and diabetes are growing at alarming rate in countries where fast foods have become the staple diet. The incidence of type 2 diabetes in New York City stands at 8% or double the rate encountered in 1994. The fast food chains like McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and Wendy should be forced to help pay for the enormous cause of obesity related health problems largely caused by the consumption of fast food. Conclusion “Moderation is a key to satisfying your sweet tooth or salt craving.” “Don’t think of a food craving as negative.” “For most people, anything is OK in moderation.” Bibliography Henderson, Elizabeth C., “Understading Addiction”, University Press of Mississsipi, Jackson, MS 2000 Online Database “Food Addicts Anonymous” google search http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/tools.htm Sorgen, Carol “snack attack : coping with cravings.” WebMD Health Oct 14 2002 Google Search WebMD Inc. 1996-2004 http://my.WebMD.com/content/article/51/40783.htm?z=2731_00000_0000_dp_01 Martindale, D. “A high with your fries?” New Scientist, February 1, 2003, p. 3 and pp. 27-29 http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a135d.htm “Obesity overtaking smoking as America’s number one killer”. Medical News Today 2003-2004 http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/index.php?newsid=6438 “Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorder”, Rader Programs http://www.raderprograms/com/symptoms.htm Buffington, Cynthia Ph.d., The Obesity Wellness Center “Obesity Research” google search Beyond Change http://www.beyondchange-obesity.com/obResearch/foodAddiction.html Splete, Heidi “Children labeled as ‘picky eaters’ do eat selectively. (Food Exposure)” Pediatric News March 2003v37 i3 p30(1) Infotrac: North Lake Commuity Library, Irving, TX Article : A 99399243 http://web1.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/250/686/49065886w1/purl=rc1_ITOF_0_A99399243& Johnson, Kate “Heart problems often a consequence of eating disorders.” Pediatric News, June 2002 v36 i6 p22(1) Infotrac : North Lake Community Library, Irving, TX Article : A88128255 http://web1.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/250/686/49065886w1/purl=rc1_ITOF_0_A88128255& Farhat Shaik Dr. Linda J. Long Speech 1311.7210 24 May 2004 Food Addiction Addiction is a dependence of the substance of affected individual feels powerless to stop. Have you ever eaten something – a bowl of ice cream, a piece of cheese, an orange – felt hungrier than before? Do you have urges for a particular food and find it hard to satisfy your craving unless you eat that particular food. If the answer is “yes” to either of these questions, then you have a food addiction. Eating disorders resemble addiction because they involve loss of control over the behavior and a continuation of it despite negative consequences. Eating disorders include an anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and compulsive over eating (binge eating). They are more common in women than in men. And in adholence and young adults than older people. The concept of picky eating in children is a possible risk factor for anorexia nervosa in adolescence. Symptoms : Individuals suffering eating disorder may be unaware that they have eating disorder and may be unaware that they have disorder or may have difficulty asking for help. Below of some of the “danger signs” to help determine if anyone could be at risk for having an eating disorder. If 3 or more of the following symptoms apply to someone then he or she may be at risk of having an eating disorder 1. Thoughts about “feeling fat” 2. Feelings of loss of control when eating 3. Guilt or shame after eating 4. Lying about eating habits 5. Self induced vomiting 6. Laxative abuse 7. Compulsive exercise 8. Heart problems 9. Eating to release stress or depression 10. Eating when not hungry 11. Depression 12. Low body weight 13. Low self esteem 14. Difficulty expressing feelings 15. Gastrointestinal complains Affect of Food Addiction on an individual : The behavioral and biochemical causes and effects underlying food addiction or nearly identical to those of other self destructive addictions. One of the most behavioral characteristic of individual suffering self destructive addiction (over eating, drinking, smoking using drugs etc) is a feeling of not being good enough. Feelings of low self-worth, in turn may cause a poor self image, low self esteem, depression, anxiety and fear of a failure. Negative feelings towards self may cause neurochemical changes within the brain that adversely influence mood and cause a physical dependency for the addictive substance. Such neurochemical defects occur in the limbic system of the brain (the area of the brain that controls mood and basic functions such as eating). Serotonin defects in the limbic area of the brain cause depression and anxiety. Nicotine, alcohol and certain drugs increase serotonin activities and temporarily improve mood. Some individuals suffering from depression and anxiety secondary to defects in low serotonin may, therefore, be using these addictive substances as a means of self medication. Carbohydrates also raise serotonin levels and enhance mood. This is why when stressed, individuals crave carbohydrates, partic...