comparison between food addiction and binge eating disorder
Last reviewed 01/2018
Food addiction is an example of a Substance use disorder.
Diagnostic criteria for Substance use disorder according to DSM-5
|
Substance often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended. Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use. Great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain or use the substance or recover from its effects. Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use the substance. Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home. Continued use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use. Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous. Substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance. Tolerance Need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect. Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance. Withdrawal Withdrawal syndrome (differs by substance) Substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms. Overuse of a certain food, as well as substances is associated |
Comparison between Binge Eating Disorder and Food Addiction
Similarities between BED and Food Addiction include:
1. Reduction in control over consumption
2. Persistent behaviour despite negative sequelae
3. A reduced ability to abstain or reduce behaviour pattern resulting in disorder
4. Associated with increased impulsivity of disorder associated behaviour
5. Both disorders associated with increased comorbidity of anxiety/mood disorders
Differences between BED and Food Addiction (Substance Dependence of a foodstuff or foodstuffs) include:
1. BED is associated with elevated concerns with shape or weight, but food addiction is not
2. BED is associated with episodes of disturbed behavior whereas in food addiction disturbed behavior is continuous
3. BED diagnosis specifies that consumption must occur during a discrete period of time, but food addiction does not whereas in food addiction there is a subjective feeling of nagging craving for particular food (s).
4. BED is associated eating that occurs despite not feeling subjective hunger (although need for eating is present)
5. in BED the function of eating is to reduce mental tension (caused by for example embarrassment caused by shape and weight) whereas in food addiction food is used to induce hedonistic satisfaction (pleasant psychophysiological feelings)
6. in BED excessive eating occurs most often in solitude; whereas in food addiction presence of other people does not matter, although company may trigger overeating
7. in food addiction there are the typical features of addiction: the phenomenon of tolerance, withdrawal syndrome, devoting a certain amount of time to activities associated with eating and neglecting or abandoning other activities for food; whereas in BED these are not present.
8. Food addiction diagnosis places a greater emphasis on the contribution of the substance (e.g., addictive potential of substances), BED diagnosis does not consider specific types or properties of food consumed (merely the amount)
9. Food addiction therapies s typically focus on abstaining from the problematic substance, but BED treatments do not
Reference:
- 1) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Washington: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.
- 2) Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2011 Sep; 4(3): 201-207