Food Addiction

1
Food Addiction
STUDENT PRESENTATION
2
OVERVIEW

• Film clip
• Definitions
• Causes
• Consequences
• Interventions
• Conclusion

Each to be discussed from the standpoints of the
user, society/culture, service providers and
decision/policy makers
3
DEFINITIONS

• Addiction
• A primary, chronic disease, characterized by
  impaired control over the use of a psychoactive
  substance and/or behaviour.
• Clinically, the manifestations occur along
  biological, psychological, sociological and
  spiritual dimensions.
• Common features are change in mood, relief from
  negative emotions, provision of pleasure,
  pre-occupation with the use of substance(s) or
  ritualistic behaviour(s) and continued use of
  the substance(s) and/or engagement in
  behaviour(s) despite adverse physical,
  psychological and/or social consequences.
• Like other chronic diseases, it can be
  progressive, relapsing and fatal.

Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine,
(1999, October 14). Definitions in addiction
medicine. Retrieved March 2, 2006, from
http//www.csam.org/def.htm991014.
4
DEFINITIONS CONTINUED

• Food addiction
• Fast consumption of a large amount of food in a
  distinct amount of time which results in being
  beyond the point of uncomfortably full.
• It is compulsive overeating which results in many
  episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binging and
  feelings of depression and guilt are often
  present.
• These addicts typically eat when they are not
  hungry, constantly think about food, and plan or
  fantasize about eating alone. This almost always
  results in weight gain and obesity.

Rogers, P., Smitr, H. (1999). Food craving and
food addiction a critical review of the
evidence from a biopsychosocial perspective.
Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 66(1),
pp. 314, 2000. Daily Strength. (2007).
Overview. Retrieved March 9, 2007, from
http//dailystrength.org/component/option,com_com
news/cid,623/
5
Behaviours associated with food addiction
that are similar to drug addictions

• Loss of control
• Unsuccessful efforts to cut down or stop the
  behaviour
• A great deal of time spent think about food or
  engaging in the behaviour
• Continuing the behaviour despite related
  consequences
• Withdrawal symptoms such as irritability,
  headaches and restlessness
• A need for increased amounts of the substance
• Changes in social, occupational, or recreational
  activities as a result of the behaviour

• Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery.
  (2005). Food Addiction.. Retrieved March 5, 2007
  from http//www.addictionrecov.org/wrkguide_food.
  htm

6
CAUSES

• From the perspective of the USER
• Coping
• Psychological
• Biological

7
Biological
These images show that obese subjects have fewer
dopamine receptors than control subjects.
McNulty Walsh, K., Rowe, M. (2002). Mere
sight/smell of food spikes levels of brain
pleasure chemical. Brookhaven National
Laboratory. Retrieved March 7, 2007, from
http//www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/2002/bnlpr0520
02.htm
8
CAUSES CONTINUED

• From the perspective of SOCIETY/CULTURE
• Media
• Peers
• Unrealistic expectations

9
CAUSES CONTINUED

• From the perspective of the service providers
• Treatment
• Focus on biological aspects
• Medication
• Healthy living facilities
• Lack of fitness
• Research findings
• Fast Food Restaurants (food service industry)
• Are they to blame?
• Larger portions
• Inexpensive low quality food

10
CAUSES CONTINUED

• From the perspective of the POLICY MAKERS
• Individual Choice
• Causes due to revolutionization
• Education and Dietary Guidelines

11
CAUSES CONTINUED

• From the perspective of the decision/policy
  makers
• Individual Choice
• Causes due to revolutionization
• Potential Causes of Food Addiction Consist of
• Less physically demanding work
• More reliance on automated transportation
• An increase in television watching and video
  games during spare time
• Education and Dietary Guidelines

Health Canada. (2006). Obesity. Its Your Health.
Retrieved March 13, 2007, from http//www.hc-sc.
gc.ca/iyh-vsv/life-vie/obes_e.html
12
Consequences for the User

• Characteristics of Food Addiction
• Obsession
• Lack of self-control
• Preoccupation
• Compulsion
• Craving

• Higgins, D.E. (1999). Food Addiction Program.
  Realization Centre Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2007
  from http//www.realizationcenter.net/fdaddct.ht
  m

13
Physical/Medical Consequences of Compulsive
Overeating

• Hypertension of fatigue
• Stroke
• Varicose veins
• Psychological disorders
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Weight gain
• Heart ailments
• Mobility problems

• Arthritis
• Sciatica
• Embolism
• Sleep depravation
• Toxemia during pregnancy
• Shortness of breath
• High Cholesterol levels
• Cardiac arrest and death

Thompson, C. (2004). Compulsive Overeating. EDSA
Canada Mirror-Mirror. Retrived March 5, 2007 from
http//www.mirror-mirror.org/compulsive.htm
14
Consequences of the User

• Impact on daily functioning
• Withdrawal Symptoms

15
Consequences to Society/Culture

• In 2004, approximately 6.8 million Canadian
  adults aged 20-64 were overweight, and an
  additional 4.5 million were obese.
• Owen, K. (2007, November 13). Psychological
  Factors in Health and Illness. Lecture Notes,
  Carleton University.

16
Gender Characteristics

• Individuals can be overweight, underweight or
  normal weight
• Binge eating can affect women or men, though it
  appears twice as often among women
• Men are thought to suffer from compulsive eating
  more than any other eating disorder.

17
Deaths by Other Eating Disorders for Males
Females
18
Deaths by Other Eating Disorders for Males
19
Deaths by Other Eating Disorders for Females
Statistics Canada. (n.d). Table 105-1100 Mental
Health and Well-being profile, Canadian Community
Health Survey (CCHS), by age group and sex,
Canada and provinces, occasional. Retrieved March
5, 2007 from http//cansim2.statcan.ca/cgi-win/cn
smcgi.exe?LangERootDirCII/ResultTemplateCII/C
II___Array_Pick1ArrayId1051100
20
Consequences for decision makers

• Obesity has an impact on government polices and
  funding from different institutions in their
  search for the causes.

Rudd Centre for Food Policy Obesity(2005).
Causes and Consequences of Obesity. Yale
University. Retrieved March 5, 2007 from
http//www.yaleruddcenter.org/default.aspx?id41
21
Consequences for decision makers

• The estimated human cost of obesity is 18 million
  sick days a year 30 000 deaths a year, resulting
  in 40 000 lost years of working life and a
  shortened lifespan of nine years on average
• According to the latest data from the Centers for
  Disease Control, obesity probably kills about
  112,000 Americans every year.
• It has been estimated that the annual cost of
  overweight and obesity in the U.S. is 122.9
  billion.
• Obesity and obesity-related conditions or
  ailments result in at least 62.7 million in
  doctors visits and 39.3 million in lost
  workdays each year.

22
(No Transcript)
23
Junk Food Ban in the UK

• Ban on junk food ads before 9pm.
• Total ban on ads during children's programs and
  on children's channels, as well as adult
  programs watched by a large number of children.
• It has been estimated the ban will cost
  broadcasters an estimated 39 million in lost
  advertising revenue.
• This ban would mean that children and young
  people, under-16 years of age would see 41
  fewer junk food ads.

24
Timeline for Junk Food Ban in the UK

• April 1, 2007 - Ads for foods high in fat, sugar
  and salt will be banned during or around
  programs made specifically for children or those
  which would particularly appeal to children aged
  seven to nine
• January 1, 2008 - Junk food ads will banned in
  and around programs aimed at, or which appeal
  to, children aged four to 15
• By December 2008 - Dedicated children's channels
  must have phased out all junk food ads

25
Interventions for the User

• Can Food Addictions be Treated?
• Yes. Treatment can work. People realize, after
  years of failed attempts, that masking their
  problems with food does not work, and that
  professional help is needed to deal with their
  feelings of anger, fear and depression.
• Because each person is unique, an individual,
  comprehensive treatment plan is designed to meet
  his or her specific needs.
• Research has shown that the most successful
  treatment is that which treats the total person.
  You do this by utilizing a blended model which
  includes cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic,
  12-step principles and family components.

26
Types of Treatment

• Group Therapy
• Individual Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Educational Programs

27
Five-Point Strategy for Overcoming Food
Addictions

• Be microscopically honest with yourself and aware
  of minor or major addictions.
• Determine what your optimum diet and eating
  amounts should be.
• Follow a new eating routine.
• Find a trusted friend, mentor or counselor to
  listen empathetically as you explain your
  emotions prior to slipping up.
• If you are tempted to fall back into old eating
  patterns, seek help from your support person.

28
Strategies for Solving Compulsive Eating

• Identify and avoid trigger foods and drinks.
• Increase nutrient density with good foods and
  nutrient supplements
• Exercise and create a healthier lifestyle
• Personal development and spiritual growth
• Realize that you need to overcome forbidden foods
• Variety is essential
• Be aware of what and how much you are eating

29
The Twelve Steps of Overeaters Anonymous

• We admitted we were powerless over food that
  our lives had become unmanageable.
• Came to believe that a Power greater than
  ourselves could restore us to sanity.
• Made a decision to turn our will and our lives
  over to the care of God as we understood Him.
• Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another
  human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
• Made a searching and fearless moral inventory
  of ourselves.
• Were entirely ready to have God remove all
  these defects of character

30

• Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
• Made a list of all persons we had harmed and
  became willing to make amends to them all.
• Made direct amends to such people wherever
  possible, except when to do so would injure them
  or others.
• Continued to take personal inventory and when we
  were wrong, promptly admitted it.
• Sought through prayer and meditation to improve
  our conscious contact with God as we understood
  Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for
  us and the power to carry that out.
• Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of
  these Steps, we tried to carry this message to
  compulsive overeaters and to practice these
  principles in all our affairs

31
What has the government done to address the
problems associated with food addiction?

• Interventions from service providers and policy
  makers

32
Canadas Food Guide
To define and promote healthy living

• Wise food choices for home, work etc.
• Helps plan meals, buy groceries, read food
  labels, and ration your food intake
• Idea is you have a balanced diet that includes
  the four food groups

33
Nutrition Facts

• Nutrition Facts easy to find, easy to read, and
  on most foods.
• Use Nutrition Facts, the list of ingredients, and
  nutrition claims to make informed food choices.
• Nutrition Facts are based on a specific amount of
  food - compare this to the amount you eat.
• Use Daily Value to see if a food has a lot or
  a
• little of a nutrient

34
Eliminate Unhealthy Choices

• In 2005 elementary schools across Canada became
  pop-free
• 85 of American schoolchildren continue to
  consume at least one can of pop a day
• 20 drink four cans a day
• Similar legislation banning soft drinks in
  schools has yet to
  be introduced in the USA

35
Childrens Fitness Tax Credit

• To qualify for the tax credit, a program must be
• ongoing (either a minimum of eight weeks duration
  with a minimum of one session per week or, in
  the case of children's camps, five consecutive
  days)
• supervised
• suitable for children and
• substantially all of the activities must include
  a significant amount of physical activity that
  contributes to cardio-respiratory endurance plus
  one or more of muscular strength, muscular
  endurance, flexibility, or balance.
• http//www.cra-arc.gc.ca/fitness/

36
(No Transcript)