Food Junkies: The Truth About Food Addiction

Obesity is on the rise, and with it are a million diets that claim to be the "right one". But is the problem food - or can people be addicted to food?These authors ascribe to the thought that yes, people can indeed be addicted to food. The first portion of the book focuses on the evidence supporting it (unfortunately, this is still a grey area, as many medical sciences still don't believe food addiction "is a thing", therefore, there aren't many studies to test it). Interspersed throughout are anecdotes about people and their lifelong relationship to food. At the end (the last chapter), the authors give helpful tips to combat food addiction - which include the ubiquitous 12-step program.I read this book thinking food addiction might be my problem, and while I do admit to overeating or eating badly, I've never stolen food from a store nor have I passed out after an all-night binging. And while sometimes I cannot stop thinking of food (and these times tend to be when I am traveling and obviously homesick), most of the time, I can eat my filling dinner and be done with food for the night. So although I found the book interesting and somewhat useful, I think others with a bigger problem with food may find it more helpful.I loved the large note section and bibliography (though it made reading the ebook weird, as the book proper ends at the 80% mark), so it would be easy enough to go through and check the research should I want to. But one thing that irked me, was the constant promotion of the 12-step program.I'm not saying people can't get success via the 12-steps; my concern is better elaborated by Dr Adi Jaffe in his article "How it doesn't work: The dogma of the 12 steps" showcased on Psychology Today, May 11, 2010:"In any other field, if one treatment doesn't work, another one is tried, and another. Different people with different conditions may need slightly different approaches. If no known treatment works, experimental ones are attempted. This is how medical science advances. Still, the notion of a physician blaming the patient for a treatment not working is ridiculous. There's an entire field built around intervention research and I'm pretty sure that simply dismissing the patient as constitutionally dishonest isn't a common technique."Many people and programs have this tendency that if you regain the weight you lost on Weight Watchers or Curves or Jenny Craig or Herbalife or MediFast, YOU are the problem. You just didn't do the program right. It can't possibly be the program that's wrong - nope, you just weren't dedicated enough.I would post the links to my google search results for "does the 12-step program work?", but Amazon doesn't allow it. However, there are several psychologists with interesting things to say about it (Dr Adi Jaffe, Dr Lance Dodes, and Dr. Stanton Peele have interesting work about what works and what doesn't).Again, I'm not saying the 12-steps are a complete crock, but like most things, there is not one way to lose weight, there is not one way to stepping away from your addictions. I can think of many diet books that claim "Eat MY way and lose weight, otherwise be a fat pig" - and every time I hear something like this, I immediately think, "Oh, you're selling me something. I have to hold you at a distance now and be skeptical of everything you say."I do find it compelling that people could have food addiction. I think anything can be addictive, depending on the person, the substance, and what is going on in the person's life (note how many of the people in the anecdote mention some type of trauma and how eating food made them feel "safe"). But I don't think the 12-step program is the end all, be-all.And for those of us with just an unhealthy relationship with food - maybe following the steps of abstinence from trigger foods isn't a bad idea. I could definitely use to eat less processed foods myself - in fact, I've spent the last week eating more salads, quinoa, fruits and trail mix interspersed with one treat a day (Simple Truth's diet ice cream - which blows Halo Top out of the water, IMO), and I'm already noting how much better I feel, and how much less I crave the donuts, cakes, and cookies that can absorb my mind.

This book is great if a person is actually a food addict. It had me convinced I might be. Just as I was about to join a very restrictive food related 12-step program, I happened to see the Herrin food plan often used currently in treating eating disorders. I decided to give the Herrin plan a try as I've been on some kind of diet most of my life since about the age of 7. The Herrin plan really has helped in reducing binge-eating episodes! I'd say about 90% successful over a period of about a month. I've noticed I don't have a problem with compulsion if I don't wait hours to eat. I can stop eating sweets at night if I've already nourished myself during the day with sane, reasonable meals. I can keep sweets in the house and other "forbidden" foods without finishing them off in one sitting. Before committing to the solution suggested in this book, I'm glad I gave the Herrin plan a try. It really helped give me guidelines for self care and may have been the solution to my decades-long problem.

You may have heard people say things like: I'm addicted to sugar, or bread, or ice cream, or insert whatever food they find particularly irresistible. But if you ever googled for food addiction treatment information or books, you might have been surprised to find just how little information is out there. We hear about the obesity epidemic and a new diet every other month, but the actual term “Food Addiction” is surprisingly poorly known or understood.I think Vera does a great job in this book on both – explaining what food addiction is and isn’t and talking about possible treatment of it by abstinence from the addicting foods. I have read other books on eating disorders and found them very unhelpful. Vera explains the difference between certain eating disorders and food addiction, which answers some of the questions I didn’t even know I should have been asking.Overall – very thorough, very informative and all the examples were chosen to illustrate points, not just to “fluff-up” the book.

This book is long overdue! Thank you for writing about the physiological aspects of food addiction in such a clear, understandable manner that people without a medical degree can understand! So many people suffer from food addiction and this book will help provide comfort, reassurance, and guidance. I am a clinical psychologist and recommend that all of my patients who are battling food addiction read Food Junkies! All professionals working in the medical, addiction, weight loss and mental health areas would benefit from reading this as well!

Great read. For years I have struggled with 'am I really addicted - or do I just need more discipline' this helped me clarify what was muddy and give up sugar and flour for good! Sober 4 months today :)

I was a person that has been dieting since 8th grade. I was never really fat, only a bit overweight, but I didn’t have and I don’t think I still do have healthy relationship with food. I had to DIET all the time in order to stay fit. And for me it was like once I have a bite of “forbiden” food I just allow myself to eat everything again til the next strict diet.I am a person that loves to read information about everything and solve her own problems without help from others. And when I decide to do something I keep myself motivated with reading articles, books, forums, watch youtube videos.2,5 years ago I cut the sugar following the principles here, I didn’t read the book. I just realised I’m addicted and since then I haven’t had a single bite of sugar under any kind!But when it comes to other foods, even healthy, I was addicted to quantity.The book gives amazing insights of the person addicted to food. That’s absolutely how I felt and stil feel since I stopped the sugar. It has been 2,5 years and I don’t trust myself that I can stop it again if I ever have a bite, because that is your only solution.There is no more, no eating less of it, no eating only ocasionally, cut the crap. There is no such thing. That’s like drug addict injecting heroin in his veins only occasionaly.I thought the same as the authours throughout the last 2,5 years. And it works.It is so hard at first, but with me after the first year honestly my desire was gone, I don’t look at the candy on the table feeling deprived, the habit of filling whatever void you are filling with sugar is gone. I didn’t feel the urge to binge anymore. I mean it didn’t happen overnight, but when you load your body with crap once in a while , you immediately feel sick and don’t do it again for some time. Now I don’t do it at all.Since reading that book I loved the quotes“Our solution is simple, if you see yourself as an addict you have to cut the foods that trigger the addiction”And also“Every time I thought this was normal behaviour that was my addiction talking”I printed those quotes and put them on my vision board, together with visualisations every day, my motivation grows stronger and stronger. I’ve lost so much in the last two months. I’m in my lowest weight since 8th grade, since I’m dieting.It’s a great book for those who want to admit they are addicted to food.Also I recommend Chocolate busters by Jason Vale.Those two books will help you SO MUCH❗️❗️❗️❗️ Good luck ❤️

I believe abstinence is the only way, ive been following a ketogenic diet plan for just over 2 months, by eliminating all sugars, flours and grains, i can say i don't get the cravings i used to get, the author is so right, even reducing those triggers just doesn't work, it has to be none, i have tried diet after diet for almost 25 years, ive been obsessed with food as long as i can remember, i get same dietary advice "moderation" , it just isnt possible for me with my trigger foods, even just a hint of those foods triggers the binging, we all want the easy way, the facts are for me anyway, stop the foods that trigger,

If you even suspect you may be a sugar / carb / food addict, then please read this book.The case studies in particular resonated with me. I could see myself in each and every person.I hid what I was eating from my friends and family. I pretended to myself that I could have 'just one biscuit'. Lies.Lies are not a healthy way to live.I had already decided to give up sugar for life when I picked up this book, but it has definitely reinforced why I have to continue this way of eating forever.The science and studies listed in the book show that food addiction is not funny. It's serious. As serious as drug or alcohol addiction.I feel a sort of freedom. There's nothing to hide anymore.

This book is the missing piece of the puzzle. The most relevant health topic today, the obesity crisis, perfectly explained. It is interesting, enlightening, and makes total sense. Food (processed food) addiction is still not taken seriously, but with the help of this book you can take it seriously yourself and get control of your life.For my whole life I wondered, why can’t I just eat less sugary things like everyone was telling me I should be able to? Do I have binge eating disorder? Am I weak? No, processed food is addictive, like nicotine and alcohol.A really excellent book.

While I think it is helpful to read about other people's experiences with food addiction, I expected more from this book. There is no real help or guidance except to tell you to find a group such as overeaters anonymous.