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What Food Addiction is not

Food addiction is not binge eating, just as binge drinking is not alcoholism. However, binge eating may be present in food addiction. Food addiction is not emotional eating just as alcoholism is not emotional drinking; rather, it is a substance-based addiction. Even 'food addiction' is not well-named. It would be more accurate to call it  'Processed Food Addiction', as there is little evidence for addiction to non-processed foods.

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A very important distinction must be made between a substance-based addiction and a behavioral addiction. Food addiction has been discussed as a behavioral syndrome, however, this is not consistent with neurological imaging research or clinical observations of the role of specific processed foods in addictive eating behavior. Approaching food addiction as a problem of behavior leads to a confusing dead end in terms of treatment, because we can't become abstinent from the behavior of eating. 

However, framing overeating as a loss of control over specific foods opens the door to treatment success because, while we have to eat, we don't have to eat the foods that trigger the addiction. We are now in the familiar territory of recovery from alcoholism. Yes, we have to drink, but we don't have to drink alcohol. The 'substance' approach is well-supported by both research and clinical experience. Under this approach, food addiction is being defined as a syndrome of addiction to substances in the same category as alcohol and drug addiction; and not as behavioral addiction such as shopping, sex or gambling.