Food Addiction and Stress Overeating

• EBT
• food addiction
• reward circuitry

I have spent the week thinking about food addiction after my posting last week.  Last week, I wrote about how the brain reacts to food in ways similar to how it reacts to drugs of abuse.  This week, I would like to continue on that same theme.

Food addiction is just now beginning to be understood in the medical field.  With the rise of obesity and all of its medical consequences researchers are trying to understand food addiction better.  The ultimate goal is to be able to treat food addiction and obesity effectively.
 
I came across an article that was published in the Los Angeles Times.  This article summarizes a research study out of Yale.  The article states that when chocolate milkshakes were shown to subjects “brain imaging showed activity surging in regions that govern cravings and falling off in those centers that curb urges.”  Also, to no surprise to people who struggle with food addiction, high sugar and high fat foods are the most stimulating in the reward circuitry of the brain.  Click here to be taken to the Yale Study abstract.

 
I think what I appreciated most about the LA Times article was how they wrapped up the article.  Not everyone struggles with food addiction as a true addiction.  Many struggle with food as the “go to” for stress relief.  Overeating can be triggered by emotional stress, physical health problems, relationship challenges, etc.  Sometimes food is what we think we need to feel better.  Click here to read the complete LA Times article.

 
We have all been there…eating an entire carton of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream or an entire bag of Lays Potato Chips.  No judgement.  Whether this is the result of food addiction or stress induced overeating, the underlying problem is in the circuitry of the brain - brain states 4 and 5.  With EBT, you have the tools to change that circuitry and move your brain state.  Good luck and keep up the hard work.