There are more links between food and mental health disorders than we think. Of course, there are issues with regards to body image, but food addiction is something that’s not just related to people who are overweight or are unhealthy. Food addiction can form unhealthy habits in even the healthiest of people. What are some of the signs of an unhealthy obsession with food? What can you do to fix this?
Signs of Unhealthy Obsession With Food
Food Is An Automatic Reaction
If you’ve had good or bad news, and your first thought is to go for food, this could be one of the signs of an obsession with food. It’s important to remember that food is something that should be enjoyed, but for some, it can prove to be a knee-jerk reaction to something.
You Obsess Over Calories
We all have a friend who is obsessed with calorie counting. This is such an unhealthy attitude to have towards food. It isn’t just excessive anxiety for no reason. If you don’t come in under your calorie limit on one day, you can beat yourself up about it. And this can lead to health concerns, especially if you are really trying to restrict your calorie intake.
You Try Extreme Diets
Now, it seems there are more extreme diets than ever. If you go back in time, you will see that extreme diets aren’t a modern fad.
The wine and eggs crash diet was recommended by Helen Gurley Brown in 1962. You go through a bottle of wine a day! This isn’t just ludicrous, but it’s dangerous!
Not only are you dangerously under-eating according to this diet, but you could easily prime yourself for rehab treatments due to alcohol addiction.
Extreme diets are everywhere now, and you only have to do a simple internet search to find a plethora of them. It’s far better to eat a well-balanced diet including superfoods such as berries, avocados, and lots of fresh vegetables.
Fixing The Issueโฆ
Of course, it can take some time to address these problems, not least admitting there is a problem in the first place. But generally, an unhealthy obsession with food falls into five categories. You could be a diet addict, a social switcher, someone who restricts food, an orthorexic eater, or an emotional eater. Each category requires a different resolution, but for anyone that has an obsession with food, professional help will always benefit.
It’s important to remember that unhealthy obsession with food isn’t just about the unhealthy aspects, even those that are strictly organic in their food choices could obsess over every detail, and read every label, thinking something that’s processed could be hazardous to their health. In actual fact, any balanced diet is still one of the healthiest attitudes towards food.
This is, of course, scratching the surface of the issue, but we all deserve to have a healthy attitude towards our meals and we all deserve to enjoy food and all its varieties. There are so many reasons behind these types of issues, but if we can spot the signs early on, we can enjoy food in a healthy manner.