food addiction help – treatment and therapy

Specialist Therapy for Food Addiction, Binge Eating and Loss of Control around Food

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Many people use the phrase “food addiction” when eating feels frightening, compulsive or out of control. You may feel unable to stop eating once you start, experience intense cravings, eat in secret, or feel preoccupied with food for much of the day. Afterwards, you may feel ashamed, guilty or confused about why this keeps happening.

Many people use the phrase “food addiction” when eating feels frightening, compulsive or out of control. You may feel unable to stop eating once you start, experience intense cravings, eat in secret, or feel preoccupied with food for much of the day. Afterwards, you may feel ashamed, guilty or confused about why this keeps happening.

The experience is real, distressing and treatable, even if “food addiction” is not the most clinically helpful label.

Binge Eating EXPLAINED

What Is Food Addiction and Is It an Official Diagnosis?

Food addiction is not currently a formal eating disorder diagnosis. Some people use the term to describe intense cravings, loss of control, or a feeling of being unable to stop eating certain foods. There is also research interest in the idea that some eating patterns can feel “addictive-like”.

However, as eating disorder professionals, we are very careful about using the term ‘food addiction’ or ‘food addiction treatment’. This is because describing food as addictive can sometimes increase fear of particular foods, reinforce shame, or lead people towards stricter food rules and avoidance. For some people, this can make the problem worse rather than better.

2-3 %

of people are estimated to be affected by BED

Rather than assuming the problem is the food itself, we would usually want to understand the wider pattern: what happens before, during and after episodes of eating; whether restriction or dieting is involved; how emotions, stress, neurodivergence, body image or trauma may be contributing; and whether there is an eating disorder that needs specialist treatment.

1.25M

people living with an eating disorder

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ASPECTS OF IMPORTANCE

Why Might I feel addicted to food?

Feeling out of control around food can happen for many reasons. For some people, it develops after a long period of dieting, restriction or trying to eat “perfectly”. The more certain foods are avoided or labelled as “bad”, the more powerful and preoccupying they can become. This can create a cycle of restriction, craving, overeating or bingeing, followed by guilt and renewed attempts to regain control.

For others, eating may become a way of coping with difficult emotions, stress, loneliness, anxiety, low mood or past experiences. Food can provide temporary relief or numbness, but this is often followed by shame or distress, which then keeps the cycle going.

Some people also experience increased impulsivity, sensory seeking, emotional dysregulation or difficulties with routine in the context of ADHD or other neurodivergent profiles. This can make eating patterns harder to manage, particularly when combined with shame, secrecy or repeated attempts to restrict food intake.

These patterns are not a sign of weakness or lack of willpower. They are usually maintained by a combination of biological, psychological, emotional and environmental factors.

Food addiction, binge eating disorder or something else?

Some people who describe themselves as having a “food addiction” may actually be experiencing binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa or another eating disorder. Although these experiences can overlap, there are important differences between the term “food addiction” and recognised eating disorders.

Feature“Food Addiction”Binge Eating Disorder (BED)Bulimia Nervosa
Typical presentationFeeling preoccupied with certain foods, experiencing intense cravings, or feeling unable to stop eating once started.Recurrent episodes of eating a large amount of food with a sense of loss of control.Recurrent episodes of binge eating with a sense of loss of control, followed by attempts to compensate.
FrequencyNo recognised diagnostic threshold.To meet diagnostic criteria, binge eating typically occurs at least once a week for three months(alongside other criteria).To meet diagnostic criteria, binge eating and compensatory behaviours typically occur at least once a week for three months (alongside other criteria).
Compensatory behavioursMay lead to increasingly rigid food rules or avoidance of certain foods, but does not require vomiting, laxative misuse, fasting or excessive exercise.No regular compensatory behaviours.Yes. Such as self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, fasting or excessive exercise.
Clinical statusNot a recognised eating disorder diagnosis. It describes a person’s experience rather than a clinical diagnosis.Recognised eating disorder.Recognised eating disorder.
Why assessment mattersSimilar experiences can occur in recognised eating disorders or other difficulties with eating. A specialist assessment helps identify the underlying cause and the most appropriate treatment.A specialist assessment confirms whether diagnostic criteria are met and guides treatment.A specialist assessment helps identify both the eating disorder and any associated medical risks.


Not everyone who feels addicted to food will meet criteria for an eating disorder. However, if food is taking up a lot of mental space, causing distress, affecting your health or relationships, or leading to secrecy, shame or compensatory behaviours, it is worth seeking a specialist assessment.

Personalised Care

How Specialist Treatment Can Help

Treatment begins with a careful assessment. This helps us understand the eating pattern, the role food is playing, and whether there may be an eating disorder, emotional eating pattern, binge–restrict cycle, body image difficulty, trauma history, ADHD or other contributing factors.

Depending on your needs, treatment may include psychological therapy, CBT-E-informed treatment, support with emotional regulation, body image work, relapse prevention, dietetic input, psychiatry, or support for co-occurring difficulties such as anxiety, depression or ADHD.

The aim is not to blame you or simply tell you what to eat. It is to help you understand why the pattern has developed, what keeps it going, and how to build a more stable and compassionate relationship with food and your body.

At The London Centre, we offer specialist eating disorder and body image treatment online and in person. Our team includes psychologists, psychotherapists, dietitians, psychiatrists and other clinicians with expertise in eating disorders and related difficulties.

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how we support you

Identifying Food Addiction Symptoms: When to Seek Support

It may be helpful to seek specialist support if you:

  • Feel out of control around food
  • Regularly eat in secret or feel ashamed after eating
  • Experience binge eating or episodes of overeating that feel difficult to stop
  • Move between restriction and overeating
  • Feel preoccupied with food, weight, shape or body image
  • Use vomiting, laxatives, fasting or excessive exercise to compensate for eating
  • Feel anxious about having certain foods at home
  • Avoid social situations because of food or body image concerns
  • Feel that eating is affecting your mood, relationships, health or daily life

You do not need to wait until things feel severe before asking for help. If eating is causing significant distress, a specialist assessment can help clarify what is happening and what type of support may be most appropriate.

Start your journey

Getting help at The London Centre

If you are worried that you may have a “food addiction”, binge eating disorder, emotional eating difficulties or another eating disorder, we can help you understand what is going on and what treatment options may be helpful.

We offer a specialist assessment and can recommend a treatment plan tailored to your needs. This may include individual psychological therapy, dietetic support, psychiatric input, online treatment, or a multidisciplinary approach where this would be helpful.

Our aim is to help you move away from shame, secrecy and fear, and towards a more stable, flexible and compassionate relationship with food.

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. “Food addiction” is not a formal eating disorder diagnosis, whereas binge eating disorder is a recognised eating disorder. However, some people who describe feeling addicted to food may be experiencing binge eating disorder or another form of disordered eating. A specialist assessment can help clarify this.

Some people experience intense cravings for sweet foods, particularly if they have been restricting them or trying to avoid them completely. However, describing sugar as addictive can sometimes increase fear and shame around food. In treatment, we would usually focus less on blaming a specific food and more on understanding the pattern that has developed around eating.

For some people, cutting out feared or “trigger” foods can seem helpful at first, but it often increases preoccupation, craving and feelings of failure if the food is eaten again. In eating disorder treatment, the goal is usually to build a more flexible and less fearful relationship with food, rather than creating more rigid rules

Binge eating often happens after periods of restriction, dieting or long gaps without enough food. Even if the restriction feels like “healthy eating”, the body and mind can respond with increased cravings, urgency and preoccupation. Emotional stress, shame and body dissatisfaction can also contribute to the cycle.

Yes. ADHD can affect eating patterns in several ways, including impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, difficulties with routine, sensory seeking, forgetfulness around meals, or using food for stimulation or comfort. Where ADHD may be relevant, it can be helpful to consider this as part of a broader assessment and treatment plan.

Yes. Psychological therapy can help you understand what is maintaining the pattern, reduce shame, develop alternative ways of managing emotions and urges, and build a more regular and flexible relationship with eating. For some people, dietetic support or psychiatric input may also be helpful.

Yes. Many people are able to access effective eating disorder and disordered eating treatment online. Online therapy can be particularly helpful where travel is difficult, where regular sessions need to fit around work or family life, or where there is limited access to specialist services locally.

Absolutely. Binge eating often coexists with anxiety, low mood, or difficulties with self-esteem. Treatment at The London Centre addresses both the eating behaviours and the wider emotional context to support whole-person recovery.