I'm on the verge of being a food addict...

Signs of Food Addiction

Researchers at Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Science & Policy have developed a questionnaire to identify people with food addictions. Here's a sample of questions that can help determine if you have a food addiction. Do these actions apply to you? Do you:

• End up eating more than planned when you start eating certain foods --> YES
• Keep eating certain foods even if you're no longer hungry --> YES
• Eat to the point of feeling ill --> YES
• Worry about not eating certain types of foods or worry about cutting down on certain types of foods -->YES
• When certain foods aren't available, go out of your way to obtain them --> YES

The questionnaire also asks about the impact of your relationship with food on your personal life. Do these situations apply to you:

• You eat certain foods so often or in such large amounts that you start eating food instead of working, spending time with the family, or doing recreational activities. --> NO, BUT I THINK ABOUT FOOD IN ALL OF THESE SITUATIONS
• You avoid professional or social situations where certain foods are available because of fear of overeating. --> NO, BUT I WORRY ABOUT OVEREATING WHILE THERE
• You have problems functioning effectively at your job or school because of food and eating. --> NO, BUT I WASTE TIME AT WORK BECAUSE OF FOOD

The questionnaire asks about psychological withdrawal symptoms. For example, when you cut down on certain foods (excluding caffeinated beverages), do you have symptoms such as:

• Anxiety --> YES
• Agitation --> YES
• Other physical symptoms --> NOT REALLY

The questionnaire also tries to gauge the impact of food decisions on your emotions. Do these situations apply to you?

• Eating food causes problems such as depression, anxiety, self-loathing, or guilt. --> YES, YES, YES, YES
• You need to eat more and more food to reduce negative emotions or increase pleasure. --> YES
• Eating the same amount of food doesn't reduce negative emotions or increase pleasure the way it used to. --> YES

So what do I do now?  :(