Binge Eating and Addiction

January 7, 2018 audrey anastasia

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Prepared, Baked and Photographed by Audrey Anastasia

The construct of eating wholesome foods to nourish our bodies seems quite simple. It goes something like this: eat lean proteins (mostly plant-based), whole fruits, whole vegetables, whole grains and do so in portions that meet the needs of the frame you were given. The body needs these nutrients from these food sources no differently than a car needs gasoline or electric as a source of its fuel. And yet for many people who start out each day with the intent to properly fuel their remarkable body, at some point - over time - something changes deep within their brain chemistry as a result of they consistently deviating toward and then consuming refined and processed foods, e.g. cookies, candy, chips, fried foods, crackers, pasta, peanut butter, ice cream, pizza or donuts. Why they deviate away from whole foods can be understood at the intersection of emotion and biochemistry.

These inferior sources of 'fuel' take on a convoluted, highly destructive source of pleasure in their brain. Individuals move away from the logic of eating to fuel their body and toward a wanting of the food source that can alter how they feel. They want the cookies or other commonly binged upon foods because it changes how they feel; it allows for a break in current thought patterns that are almost always negative or even steeped in boredom. It becomes an effective drug. And every time that food is thought about as a means to dull the feeling - that which stimulates the desire to binge - and the preferred food is accessible, it is likely they will engage in eating it again and again because the neural pathways associated with that pleasure have become recognized deep within the brain. In essence, the brain has become highjacked and the addiction cycle is now well established.

The underlying motivator to binge is a perceived lack of control. That is, an unexplainable force that pulls at someone to eat something - often in large quantities - or at the very least in quantities that they are often remorseful about after the fact. It is if something in our brain is triggered and something as neutral as a cookie takes on a remarkable source of power. Feelings reemerge, the cookie grabs your attention, and subsequently a sense of arousal as it taps into the subcortical limbic portion of your brain that is associated with pleasure. You subconsciously are reminded of your last pleasurable experience eating that food. It is often followed with rationalization, logic, an urge, and if acted upon, a sense of sheer pleasure with the first bite. The elation is uncanny for a few reasons not the least of which is because of the release of dopamine and acetylcholine - both neurotransmitters that are associated with feel good highs. And then the remorse follows. We convince ourselves that we will not 'do that' again. And so the cycle perpetuates itself each time there is exposure to the stimulus, the familiar cue to indulge, and a reaction to quiet it with food.

There are varying thresholds of susceptibility to who will binge with any sense of regular patterns, and we have to ask to what extent are we born with this susceptibility and to what extent is it learned. We believe our perception of those experiences and trauma - real or perceived - serve as a stimulus and are likely learned. Regardless, when those thoughts present and there are limited or ineffective coping skills in place - something to redirect your attention away from food - then the prevailing emotion (sadness, boredom, loneliness, thoughts of being inferior/not smart enough/not good enough) becomes a larger part of your identity. And we then treat that emotion with our new found food drug. It is, after all, accessible, inexpensive, legal, and ostensibly allows for the individual to regain their sense of control.

Depression is almost always present in those that overeat or binge. It forces the individual to focus on negative thoughts and experiences exclusively. And they learn that these powerful drugs released by the brain can be tapped into by way of consuming refined & processed foods. Cognitive behavioral therapy, consideration of an antidepressant, and removing access to trigger foods are the first line of treatment in helping those suffering from binge episodes or food addiction. Only then can they better reframe their reaction to their experiences and subsequent emotions such that they are present in their thoughts less often; thus, their reaction to reach out to refined and processed food mitigates.

Those with obesity as a result of food addiction are not broken. There is not 'something wrong' with them. They do not simply 'lack discipline'. They are the susceptible that need understanding and support as they recover so they can be empowered to reframe their relationship with food. They must recognize that we will likely not erase the existing neural pathways established by their past reliance on 'foods' that the food industry manufactures, but that we can make way for and allow new pathways to be established. In doing so, they become the observers to the old pathways slowly becoming overgrown. We will always know where they lie, but will learn over time and with consistency to avoid going down that previous path and restrengthening what we know to be unhealthy. We can shift our perception of emotions and experiences and look toward something else that has more importance including the impact we have as individuals in changing ourselves and those around us. We can experience the same release of feel good neurotransmitters in other healthy, productive ways. Only then can we can become the remarkable person that we are capable of becoming and that we want the world to meet.

#6000m #notjustyou