Research Suggests Food Addiction Could Be Condition

According to new scientific research, one in 200 people may actually be clinically addicted to food.

Apparently there is evidence to suggest that some binge-eaters fit into the criteria for addiction and that food abuse could end up being a diagnosable condition.

What this means is that if food addiction is found to be a physical or psychological addiction, treatment for obesity and other eating disorders would change.

Professor Julian Mercer from the University of Aberdeen said: ‘If we can reach a consensus on how overeating should be classified, this could lead to major change in clinical treatment and public policy surrounding obesity.’

He added: ‘In future, overeating could be recognised as the consequence of food addiction in a small group of individuals, and the treatment they are offered may have convergence with that which is offered to drug/alcohol abusers.’

Certain foods could end up being classed as addictive.

This could also lead to certain foods being classified as being addictive just like alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.

A multi-million euro project has been launched across seven countries to investigate the issue further.