Can impulsiveness dictate your relationship with food?

Addiction is an incredibly complicated condition, one that is spurred by genetic factors, chemical interactions, societal pressures and more. Because of this, the best drug and eating disorder treatment centers in Florida take a holistic approach to recovery so that all contributing elements are recognized and addressed. At Fairwinds Treatment Center, we're among the leaders in dual-diagnosis treatment in the country largely because we recognize this complexity and will not commence a program until we've unearthed every potential risk factor for our patients.

As a part of our commitment to supporting and educating our patients and their families, we strive to share the newest developments in addiction science. Recently, researchers from the University of Georgia discovered that there may be a link to a certain type of impulsiveness and an increased risk of food addiction. 

"The notion of food addiction is a very new one, and one that has generated a lot of interest of drug addiction," said associate professor of psychology and lead investigator James MacKillop in a press release. "We think it's possible to think about impulsivity, food addiction and obesity using some of the same techniques."

Though the researchers primarily focused on food addiction in terms of obesity, eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia can also stem – at least in part – from an unhealthy relationship with food. Understanding the mechanisms behind compulsive eating is an important aspect of eating disorder treatment, and at Fairwinds Treatment Center, we are here to help demystify this self-destructive behavior. If you believe that you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, contact us today to get the answers you need.