How is fast food addictive

Of course, all of this is a drastic oversimplification, but this is basically how food addiction and any addiction is believed to work. Frequent consumption of junk food may lead to dopamine tolerance. This means that a person will have to eat even more junk food to avoid going into withdrawal.

A craving is an emotional state characterized by a desire to consume a certain food. It should not be confused with simple hunger , which is different. A person might be doing mundane things like watching a favorite TV show, walking the dog, or reading.

Then suddenly a craving for something like ice cream appears. Even though the cravings sometimes seem to come out of nowhere, they can be turned on by certain triggers, which are known as cues. However, they can also be induced by certain emotional states, such as feeling depressed or lonely, a behavior known as emotional eating.

A craving makes it hard to think of something else. It also makes it hard to consider the health impacts of eating junk food. For those with food addiction, these cravings can be so powerful that they cause people to break rules they set for themselves, such as only eating unhealthy food on Saturdays.

Regularly giving in to cravings for junk food may be a sign that someone is experiencing food addiction or emotional eating.

When acting on cravings, the brain gets a reward — a feeling of pleasure associated with the release of dopamine. The reward is what cravings and food addiction are all about.

While four scoops of ice cream were enough 3 years ago, today it may take eight scoops to experience the same level of reward. It simply does not work. Over time, food addiction can cause severe physical and psychological problems. Many people who have been struggling with food addiction for a long time keep their eating habits a secret.

They may also be living with depression or anxiety, which can contribute to addiction. They may not realize they need help to overcome food addiction and that getting treatment for depression and anxiety can also help with addiction treatment.

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Already subscribed? Log in. Forgotten your password? Want an ad-free experience? View offers. But processed food companies can mix ingredients and chemically exaggerate flavors to create taste sensations so appealing that you keep wanting more. In a study where researchers asked people what foods they were most likely to overeat, some of the most common responses were:.

But not everyone who struggles with it is overweight. People who are a healthy weight can also fall into addictive eating behaviors. Sometimes, these behaviors can trigger other unhealthy patterns, such as crash dieting or over-exercising to burn off the extra calories consumed. Willpower alone is rarely a strong enough defense against food addiction and the vicious cycle of cravings, overindulging and guilt it creates.

In fact, trying to fight your cravings can even intensify them. Albers recommends working with a psychiatrist or psychologist who can help you address both the physical symptoms and the underlying emotional factors that might be contributing to your food addiction.

You might also find support groups like Overeaters Anonymous that host free in-person or virtual meetings in your area. Learning what triggers your addictive behaviors will be an important first step. Mindfulness and other techniques to help you manage stress can also help overcome the cycle of overeating.

Learn how these foods can hijack your brain chemistry and leave you wanting more, and how to break the cycle of overeating them. Learn more about vaccine availability.