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Food Junkies: The Truth About Food Addiction
A fact-filled guide to coping with compulsive overeating problems by an experienced addictions doctor who draws on many patients’ stories of recovery.
Overeating, binge eating, obesity, anorexia, and bulimia: Food Junkies tackles the complex, poorly understood issue of food addiction from the perspectives of a medical researcher and dozens of survivors. What exactly is food addiction? Is it possible to draw a hard line between indulging cravings for “comfort food” and engaging in substance abuse? For people struggling with food addictions, recognizing their condition — to say nothing of gaining support and advice — remains a frustrating battle.
Built around the experiences of people suffering and recovering from food addictions, Food Junkies offers practical information grounded in medical science, while putting a face to the problems of food addiction. It is meant to be a knowledgeable and friendly guide on the road to food serenity.
Overeating, binge eating, obesity, anorexia, and bulimia: Food Junkies tackles the complex, poorly understood issue of food addiction from the perspectives of a medical researcher and dozens of survivors. What exactly is food addiction? Is it possible to draw a hard line between indulging cravings for “comfort food” and engaging in substance abuse? For people struggling with food addictions, recognizing their condition — to say nothing of gaining support and advice — remains a frustrating battle.
Built around the experiences of people suffering and recovering from food addictions, Food Junkies offers practical information grounded in medical science, while putting a face to the problems of food addiction. It is meant to be a knowledgeable and friendly guide on the road to food serenity.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2014
152 people are currently reading
907 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 17, 2015
I have to say that I have never read a diet book in this type of format before and I rather liked it. The book is a collection of not only the authors opinion and experiences on the subject of food addiction, but it is also jammed packed with personal stories from and about people that have suffered the crippling effects of this disease. It follows the successful and unsuccessful dieters in a very intimate and eye opening fashion.
Food Junkie's main message is about first off, acknowledging that food addiction is a real thing, and secondly that the only way to truly get a handle on food addiction is by abstaining from carbs, sugar, and salt,( whichever is/are your trigger(s) ).
Now you can imagine the look on my face when I read that, but the more I thought about it and the more I read, the more I became convinced. I believe food addiction to be a real thing, so why would I think that overcoming it/living with it would differ from any other addiction program? My only complaints were that the book did feel a little repetitive, but I suppose the author was just trying to drive home her points. I also wished that meal plans/recipes had been a bigger part of the book.
At the end of the day I feel like this book is filled with interesting information that many people, not just food addicts would benefit from. This is not a flashy lose 20 pounds in 10 days book, and therefore I think that this book will only gain converts who are already very committed to doing whatever it takes to lose weight. I would label myself as more of an emotional eater than a food addict, but I still took away lots of good stuff from this book.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy ( if you're okay with no recipes/meal plans being provided)
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2017
Bullet Review:
I realize after reading this, that "food addiction" doesn't quite cover my case. Maybe somewhat, but I've never stolen food nor have I passed out after eating so much I was sick. (Not saying I haven't overeaten but nowhere near like I did say 10 years ago.)
The advice here is contrary to many books I've read - instead of moderation, you need to find your trigger foods and omit them 100% 100% of the time.
People who have questions about the efficacy of the 12-step program should be suspicious of this as this book strongly urges food addicts to go to an Overeaters Anon or other group.
There were bits I found helpful; therefore 3-stars. Narrator was great!
Full Review:
Obesity is on the rise, and with it are a million diets that claim to be the "right one". But is the problem food - or can people be addicted to food?
These authors ascribe to the thought that yes, people can indeed be addicted to food. The first portion of the book focuses on the evidence supporting it (unfortunately, this is still a grey area, as many medical sciences still don't believe food addiction "is a thing", therefore, there aren't many studies to test it). Interspersed throughout are anecdotes about people and their lifelong relationship to food. At the end (the last chapter), the authors give helpful tips to combat food addiction - which include the ubiquitous 12-step program.
I read this book thinking food addiction might be my problem, and while I do admit to overeating or eating badly, I've never stolen food from a store nor have I passed out after an all-night binging. And while sometimes I cannot stop thinking of food (and these times tend to be when I am traveling and obviously homesick), most of the time, I can eat my filling dinner and be done with food for the night. So although I found the book interesting and somewhat useful, I think others with a bigger problem with food may find it more helpful.
I loved the large note section and bibliography (though it made reading the ebook weird, as the book proper ends at the 80% mark), so it would be easy enough to go through and check the research should I want to. But one thing that irked me, was the constant promotion of the 12-step program.
I'm not saying people can't get success via the 12-steps; my concern is better elaborated in this article:
Many people and programs have this tendency that if you regain the weight you lost on Weight Watchers or Curves or Jenny Craig or Herbalife or MediFast, YOU are the problem. You just didn't do the program right.
Here are just a few articles I found on the first page of my google search for "does the 12-step program work?"
http://www.npr.org/2014/03/23/2914058...
http://www.substance.com/heres-what-i...
https://lifeprocessprogram.com/resist...
https://psmag.com/social-justice/75-y...
Again, I'm not saying the 12-steps are a complete crock, but like most things, there is not one way to lose weight, there is not one way to stepping away from your addictions. I can think of many diet books that claim "Eat MY way and lose weight, otherwise be a fat pig" - and every time I hear something like this, I immediately think, "Oh, you're selling me something. I have to hold you at a distance now and be skeptical of everything you say."
I do find it compelling that people could have food addiction. I think anything can be addictive, depending on the person, the substance, and what is going on in the person's life (note how many of the people in the anecdote mention some type of trauma and how eating food made them feel "safe"). But I don't think the 12-step program is the end all, be-all.
And for those of us with just an unhealthy relationship with food - maybe following the steps of abstinence from trigger foods isn't a bad idea. I could definitely use to eat less processed foods myself - in fact, I've spent the last week eating more salads, quinoa, fruits and trail mix interspersed with one treat a day (Simple Truth's diet ice cream - which blows Halo Top out of the water, IMO), and I'm already noting how much better I feel, and how much less I crave the donuts, cakes, and cookies that can absorb my mind.
I realize after reading this, that "food addiction" doesn't quite cover my case. Maybe somewhat, but I've never stolen food nor have I passed out after eating so much I was sick. (Not saying I haven't overeaten but nowhere near like I did say 10 years ago.)
The advice here is contrary to many books I've read - instead of moderation, you need to find your trigger foods and omit them 100% 100% of the time.
People who have questions about the efficacy of the 12-step program should be suspicious of this as this book strongly urges food addicts to go to an Overeaters Anon or other group.
There were bits I found helpful; therefore 3-stars. Narrator was great!
Full Review:
Obesity is on the rise, and with it are a million diets that claim to be the "right one". But is the problem food - or can people be addicted to food?
These authors ascribe to the thought that yes, people can indeed be addicted to food. The first portion of the book focuses on the evidence supporting it (unfortunately, this is still a grey area, as many medical sciences still don't believe food addiction "is a thing", therefore, there aren't many studies to test it). Interspersed throughout are anecdotes about people and their lifelong relationship to food. At the end (the last chapter), the authors give helpful tips to combat food addiction - which include the ubiquitous 12-step program.
I read this book thinking food addiction might be my problem, and while I do admit to overeating or eating badly, I've never stolen food from a store nor have I passed out after an all-night binging. And while sometimes I cannot stop thinking of food (and these times tend to be when I am traveling and obviously homesick), most of the time, I can eat my filling dinner and be done with food for the night. So although I found the book interesting and somewhat useful, I think others with a bigger problem with food may find it more helpful.
I loved the large note section and bibliography (though it made reading the ebook weird, as the book proper ends at the 80% mark), so it would be easy enough to go through and check the research should I want to. But one thing that irked me, was the constant promotion of the 12-step program.
I'm not saying people can't get success via the 12-steps; my concern is better elaborated in this article:
"In any other field, if one treatment doesn't work, another one is tried, and another. Different people with different conditions may need slightly different approaches. If no known treatment works, experimental ones are attempted. This is how medical science advances. Still, the notion of a physician blaming the patient for a treatment not working is ridiculous. There's an entire field built around intervention research and I'm pretty sure that simply dismissing the patient as constitutionally dishonest isn't a common technique."
Many people and programs have this tendency that if you regain the weight you lost on Weight Watchers or Curves or Jenny Craig or Herbalife or MediFast, YOU are the problem. You just didn't do the program right.
Here are just a few articles I found on the first page of my google search for "does the 12-step program work?"
http://www.npr.org/2014/03/23/2914058...
http://www.substance.com/heres-what-i...
https://lifeprocessprogram.com/resist...
https://psmag.com/social-justice/75-y...
Again, I'm not saying the 12-steps are a complete crock, but like most things, there is not one way to lose weight, there is not one way to stepping away from your addictions. I can think of many diet books that claim "Eat MY way and lose weight, otherwise be a fat pig" - and every time I hear something like this, I immediately think, "Oh, you're selling me something. I have to hold you at a distance now and be skeptical of everything you say."
I do find it compelling that people could have food addiction. I think anything can be addictive, depending on the person, the substance, and what is going on in the person's life (note how many of the people in the anecdote mention some type of trauma and how eating food made them feel "safe"). But I don't think the 12-step program is the end all, be-all.
And for those of us with just an unhealthy relationship with food - maybe following the steps of abstinence from trigger foods isn't a bad idea. I could definitely use to eat less processed foods myself - in fact, I've spent the last week eating more salads, quinoa, fruits and trail mix interspersed with one treat a day (Simple Truth's diet ice cream - which blows Halo Top out of the water, IMO), and I'm already noting how much better I feel, and how much less I crave the donuts, cakes, and cookies that can absorb my mind.
January 12, 2017
This was such an interesting book. I have always enjoyed getting to know the science behind our body and the way we work, especially psychologically. This book takes an in depth look at the science and current study in the addictions related to food and eating. It is so much more than just what and when you eat, and the author, who practices medicine in this particular field, uses the book to show us the full detail behind these addictions.
It is easy to read,but doesn't make itself so by cutting any pertinent or interesting facts. You do not need to be scientifically minded to understand and enjoy this book, but it will still be engaging and interesting for those who are and have more of a background in the subjects. It would also be a very interesting read for those who study nutrition and health/fitness.
I really enjoyed this book and feel that a lot people will find it both interesting and useful. It is one that can used as a tool to help those you know who may suffer from a food addiction, or yourself, and can easily be seen as an invaluable insight in to the way those with food addictions think, feel and act, with regards to food.
**I received this book for free and voluntarily provided my honest and unbiased review.
It is easy to read,but doesn't make itself so by cutting any pertinent or interesting facts. You do not need to be scientifically minded to understand and enjoy this book, but it will still be engaging and interesting for those who are and have more of a background in the subjects. It would also be a very interesting read for those who study nutrition and health/fitness.
I really enjoyed this book and feel that a lot people will find it both interesting and useful. It is one that can used as a tool to help those you know who may suffer from a food addiction, or yourself, and can easily be seen as an invaluable insight in to the way those with food addictions think, feel and act, with regards to food.
**I received this book for free and voluntarily provided my honest and unbiased review.
November 16, 2014
ARC for review.
This is not my normal type of read - I've never been a diet of the week person (you can look at me and tell that) and I'm not sure I've ever actually purchased a book about diet. However, since I have a sneaking suspicion that I am one of the food junkies to which the title refers, I thought I would give it a try.
Tarman is a good writer and she doesn't hesitate to rely on knowledgeable sources. Here's the gist - the first quarter of the book is spent defending the idea that food addiction exists - apparently that is not at all settled within the medical and/or research communities. Tarman's evidence, while often anecdotal (there's a surprisingly lack of peer reviewed study on the issue) rings true, so I bought the premise. The idea is that some people overeat (I'm concentrating on those overeating, though Tarman often notes that food addiction can often plague bulimics and anorexics as well) because of emotional issues (using food as a drug to create good feelings) but perhaps many more are actually "allergic" to various types of trigger foods - especially....drum roll, sugar, flour, fat, and salt with sugar and flour the largest culprits. For the second type of the person, the only real hope for long term success is complete and total abstinence from these foods. Forever. No cheat days, no excuses. Essentially it's a chemical dependency just like alcoholism or drug addiction and should be treated in the same way.
For me, even in the anecdotes that Tarman uses to justify this hypothesis nearly every individual discussed seemed to be a mixture of these two types of people, so I think that some of the scientific distinctions between the two were too subtle for me to fully grasp. Then the last third of the book is basically an endorsement of the paleo diet and at no point did I come away thinking I could ever make the changes trumpeted by Tarman.
Anyway, an interesting read if you are a fan of these types of books as it offers a good review of the current state of science on eating disorders, especially binge eating and food addiction and it provides a good list of resources.
This is not my normal type of read - I've never been a diet of the week person (you can look at me and tell that) and I'm not sure I've ever actually purchased a book about diet. However, since I have a sneaking suspicion that I am one of the food junkies to which the title refers, I thought I would give it a try.
Tarman is a good writer and she doesn't hesitate to rely on knowledgeable sources. Here's the gist - the first quarter of the book is spent defending the idea that food addiction exists - apparently that is not at all settled within the medical and/or research communities. Tarman's evidence, while often anecdotal (there's a surprisingly lack of peer reviewed study on the issue) rings true, so I bought the premise. The idea is that some people overeat (I'm concentrating on those overeating, though Tarman often notes that food addiction can often plague bulimics and anorexics as well) because of emotional issues (using food as a drug to create good feelings) but perhaps many more are actually "allergic" to various types of trigger foods - especially....drum roll, sugar, flour, fat, and salt with sugar and flour the largest culprits. For the second type of the person, the only real hope for long term success is complete and total abstinence from these foods. Forever. No cheat days, no excuses. Essentially it's a chemical dependency just like alcoholism or drug addiction and should be treated in the same way.
For me, even in the anecdotes that Tarman uses to justify this hypothesis nearly every individual discussed seemed to be a mixture of these two types of people, so I think that some of the scientific distinctions between the two were too subtle for me to fully grasp. Then the last third of the book is basically an endorsement of the paleo diet and at no point did I come away thinking I could ever make the changes trumpeted by Tarman.
Anyway, an interesting read if you are a fan of these types of books as it offers a good review of the current state of science on eating disorders, especially binge eating and food addiction and it provides a good list of resources.
May 15, 2019
Book is a definite eye-opener. It’s a bit hellish to recognise myself in a lot of it, but a bit of a relief too. Worth a listen for anyone struggling with food issues.
February 20, 2017
My original Food Junkies audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Food addiction creates a situation where many who suffer, find themselves alone and without good advice. In Food Junkies: The Truth About Food Addiction by Vera Tarman and Philip Werdell, they provide not only practical advice, but a host of narratives where those that suffer from food addiction can gain the confidence to break the cycle of addiction. The central tenet of the book is that to combat overeating, one must treat overeating as an addiction and the book works to validate that, often opposed, contention. While addictions in alcohol, drugs, and other substances sometimes remain often as problems others have, all of us eat food. This book provides solace and a talking center for what seems an obvious issue, but is not talked about much. If overeating is a genetic disorder, then there would be great value in parent talking to child and child talking to parent in a way that’s meaningful.
Those who are food addicts, or at least overeat, will recognize many parts of the book will resonate with them from digging food out of the trash after throwing it away to the denial that comes with the disorder. The narratives clear, telling a story, making an important point, but some go beyond what one might initially expect is a book of clinical explication. From the introduction, the authors make clear there are three audiences: the clinician, the patient, and the layperson interested in the subject and speaks clearly to all of them. The parallels are strong between food and alcohol addiction and the analogies and metaphors vivid. The only small idiosyncrasies about the book came from the editing, from time to time a veteran clinician will recognize some points that aren’t quite right such as hearing “pharmakinetics” instead of “pharmacokinetics.”
While it may seem an odd companion, The Bitter Taste of Dying: A Memoir by Jason Smith, narrated by Paul Costanzo, provides a strong narrative “next read,” I feel to this book about overeating and addiction. While The Truth About Food Addiction goes over the stages of early, middle, late, and final in the food addiction circuit, as one would expect of a clinical narrative, the book also goes very dark, it goes to the places the textbooks won’t – to stories of failure, rape, hopelessness, and death. These are more than stories of success and failure, these narratives are the real sadness many would be uncomfortable sharing, but the important real solutions that come from this candid and important discussion.
About the narrator
Lisa Bunting is a veteran narrator providing both the gravitas and clarity that the book needs. She is an easy listen and provides the narrative strength to capture both the emotion and teaching that come from this book. It seems a very good match between content and speaker. Her voice is assuring, while not being pushy, as many readers are looking for encouragement, but a firm hand to help guide them. Her voice lends that hand.
Audiobook was provided for review by the publisher.
Food addiction creates a situation where many who suffer, find themselves alone and without good advice. In Food Junkies: The Truth About Food Addiction by Vera Tarman and Philip Werdell, they provide not only practical advice, but a host of narratives where those that suffer from food addiction can gain the confidence to break the cycle of addiction. The central tenet of the book is that to combat overeating, one must treat overeating as an addiction and the book works to validate that, often opposed, contention. While addictions in alcohol, drugs, and other substances sometimes remain often as problems others have, all of us eat food. This book provides solace and a talking center for what seems an obvious issue, but is not talked about much. If overeating is a genetic disorder, then there would be great value in parent talking to child and child talking to parent in a way that’s meaningful.
Those who are food addicts, or at least overeat, will recognize many parts of the book will resonate with them from digging food out of the trash after throwing it away to the denial that comes with the disorder. The narratives clear, telling a story, making an important point, but some go beyond what one might initially expect is a book of clinical explication. From the introduction, the authors make clear there are three audiences: the clinician, the patient, and the layperson interested in the subject and speaks clearly to all of them. The parallels are strong between food and alcohol addiction and the analogies and metaphors vivid. The only small idiosyncrasies about the book came from the editing, from time to time a veteran clinician will recognize some points that aren’t quite right such as hearing “pharmakinetics” instead of “pharmacokinetics.”
While it may seem an odd companion, The Bitter Taste of Dying: A Memoir by Jason Smith, narrated by Paul Costanzo, provides a strong narrative “next read,” I feel to this book about overeating and addiction. While The Truth About Food Addiction goes over the stages of early, middle, late, and final in the food addiction circuit, as one would expect of a clinical narrative, the book also goes very dark, it goes to the places the textbooks won’t – to stories of failure, rape, hopelessness, and death. These are more than stories of success and failure, these narratives are the real sadness many would be uncomfortable sharing, but the important real solutions that come from this candid and important discussion.
About the narrator
Lisa Bunting is a veteran narrator providing both the gravitas and clarity that the book needs. She is an easy listen and provides the narrative strength to capture both the emotion and teaching that come from this book. It seems a very good match between content and speaker. Her voice is assuring, while not being pushy, as many readers are looking for encouragement, but a firm hand to help guide them. Her voice lends that hand.
Audiobook was provided for review by the publisher.
April 29, 2023
This was an informative and interesting read that successfully combined theory of food addiction with stories of individuals experiencing issues with food. The focus on the book is not dieting but rather bringing forth information about being addicted to food and working to undo especially physical components of food dependency. Though I found most of the material to be very educational I have to admit as someone who works with people experiencing issues with substance use, I wish the term "junkies" was replaced by something else. Unfortunately as popular as that term is, its connotations are very negative which can be quite triggering for many people.
The authors share a lot of information that's not just theoretical but based on real experiences and stories and I think this part will resonate with many people. Again as someone who works with people dealing with addictions I believe though abstinence is the right path for many, it's not the only path available to people struggling with this. At the heart of addiction are usually other, deeper problem and prohibition is not always the answer for everyone.
Overall I think this is an important read for everyone wanting to know more about food addiction. I found the book really well written and accessible even for those readers who are just starting to learn about this subject.
Grateful to NetGalley and Dundurn for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The authors share a lot of information that's not just theoretical but based on real experiences and stories and I think this part will resonate with many people. Again as someone who works with people dealing with addictions I believe though abstinence is the right path for many, it's not the only path available to people struggling with this. At the heart of addiction are usually other, deeper problem and prohibition is not always the answer for everyone.
Overall I think this is an important read for everyone wanting to know more about food addiction. I found the book really well written and accessible even for those readers who are just starting to learn about this subject.
Grateful to NetGalley and Dundurn for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
December 6, 2014
A wonderfully written, clear and informative book on the topic of food addiction. If you've ever had any confusion about eating disorders this book will answer many of your questions. Dr. Tarman gives the reader clinical terminology to understand the body and its appetites and outlines the differences between eating disorders, normal eating, overeating, anorexia and full-blown food addiction. Dr. Tarman advocates strongly and quite convincingly for recognition as food addiction as a disease. She examines the physical, spiritual and emotional aspects of the disease but stresses the 12-step model of abstinence as the first step towards recovery. A fascinating book, filled with personal stories from Canadian men and women suffering from this horrific illness and one I won't forget.
March 12, 2018
Zoals de tabaksindustrie decennia lang heeft ontkend dat sigaretten inherent verslavend zijn, zo doet de voedselindustrie haar dat na als het op bewerkte producten aankomt. Gesteund door artsen die niet op de hoogte zijn van recent wetenschappelijk onderzoek, wordt er gewezen naar het individu: mensen die niet kunnen stoppen met eten, zouden zwak zijn en niet genoeg discipline hebben.
Tarman, zelf verslavingsarts, breekt met deze gewoonte en laat in dit boek zien wat bewerkte producten met de hersenen doen. Waarom worden zoveel ex-alcoholisten obees zodra zij in remissie zijn van de verslaving? Om dezelfde reden dat zoveel mensen na een maagoperatie alcoholist worden: bepaalde voedingsmiddelen stimuleren precies dezelfde beloningsgebieden in de hersenen. De oplossing? Tarman raadt een aanpak aan zoals die van andere verslavingen: geheelonthouding van de trigger foods (die per persoon verschillend kunnen zijn), liefst gecombineerd met FAA-achtige (food addicts anonymous) bijeenkomsten voor sociale steun en om verantwoording af te leggen. De 12 steps aanpak blijkt dan ook te werken bij voedselverslaafden.
Al met al een zeer interessant boek, gestaafd met wetenschappelijke bewijzen alsmede persoonlijke verhalen.
Tarman, zelf verslavingsarts, breekt met deze gewoonte en laat in dit boek zien wat bewerkte producten met de hersenen doen. Waarom worden zoveel ex-alcoholisten obees zodra zij in remissie zijn van de verslaving? Om dezelfde reden dat zoveel mensen na een maagoperatie alcoholist worden: bepaalde voedingsmiddelen stimuleren precies dezelfde beloningsgebieden in de hersenen. De oplossing? Tarman raadt een aanpak aan zoals die van andere verslavingen: geheelonthouding van de trigger foods (die per persoon verschillend kunnen zijn), liefst gecombineerd met FAA-achtige (food addicts anonymous) bijeenkomsten voor sociale steun en om verantwoording af te leggen. De 12 steps aanpak blijkt dan ook te werken bij voedselverslaafden.
Al met al een zeer interessant boek, gestaafd met wetenschappelijke bewijzen alsmede persoonlijke verhalen.
November 16, 2017
The best book about food addiction and ED, the amount of information in it is just amazing .
you can see that the author put all of her experience in this book.
helped me a lot and definitely worth reading. but IMO this book alone isn't enough if yo are suffering from this disease , you should read other famous known books.
you can see that the author put all of her experience in this book.
helped me a lot and definitely worth reading. but IMO this book alone isn't enough if yo are suffering from this disease , you should read other famous known books.
March 12, 2018
Find out the reason why you crave sweet foods
February 22, 2022
All the information needed for a food addict to change their lives. Worth reading again in a few years.
August 2, 2017
Despite the research and stories done with this book, I could not buy the story the authors are selling. The breaking point for me was saying that it is possible for people can be born with a "food addiction". The bottom line obese people to degree we have in the US, Australia, etc are rarely not found in regions where they don't have the same processed food, obscene amount of dairy and meat and little day to day movement. Costa Rica and Thailand eat more sugar than most countries on earth and they boast very low heart disease and diabetes (except for wealthier regions that adopt an unhealthy diet). I did appreciate the part of the stories that showed how difficult it is to break away from these habits as I think a lot of people including myself can relate to that aspect. How labeling a person as a victim of their "sugar addiction" is silly considering most of the body runs off of glucose. Better to eat better sources of sugar such as fruit and most people would find that those sugar cravings decrease dramatically.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2017
Earlier this year I realized I was a food addict and added this book to my reading list. I have learned some excellent things.
1. Life sucks. For pretty much everyone.
2. There are things that mess up our chemistry and trick us into feeling good.
3. People will attempt to fill the void in their lives by using these feel good things, which it is their nature to require and more and more of whatever thing makes you feel good.
4. For people with this issue, the addictions come in threes.
5. The way to fix addiction is abstinence from the things to which you are addicted and to deal with the voids in your life or whatever else causes life to suck.
6. Make an effort to make life not suck so bad.
Personally, through pregnancy, a rough childhood and some unfortunate life events, my dopamine has run amok. My serotonin is not flowing. I chose food for my addiction. And maybe shopping. And if you can call it an addiction, coveting. What void am I trying to feel? Likely boredom, loneliness or an empty Love tank, maybe just plain stress, maybe defeat in not being able to change the world.
All you need to know, you learned in kindergarten (great book)- you need a buddy to help you through life. Let me know if you want to my food addiction buddy.
1. Life sucks. For pretty much everyone.
2. There are things that mess up our chemistry and trick us into feeling good.
3. People will attempt to fill the void in their lives by using these feel good things, which it is their nature to require and more and more of whatever thing makes you feel good.
4. For people with this issue, the addictions come in threes.
5. The way to fix addiction is abstinence from the things to which you are addicted and to deal with the voids in your life or whatever else causes life to suck.
6. Make an effort to make life not suck so bad.
Personally, through pregnancy, a rough childhood and some unfortunate life events, my dopamine has run amok. My serotonin is not flowing. I chose food for my addiction. And maybe shopping. And if you can call it an addiction, coveting. What void am I trying to feel? Likely boredom, loneliness or an empty Love tank, maybe just plain stress, maybe defeat in not being able to change the world.
All you need to know, you learned in kindergarten (great book)- you need a buddy to help you through life. Let me know if you want to my food addiction buddy.
March 18, 2018
For 12 to 13 years, I struggled with a food addiction. But I didn't know that for 10 years. And even after I started to put everything together, I still didn't believe it. Besides, people didn't give me a safe place to try and talk seriously about the behaviors, thoughts, and patterns that I knew were not "normal".
This book was the book that finally gave me the ability to talk about this problem for the first time in my life.
It was a bit redundant but I didn't mind; I was just incredibly happy to finally have some HOPE.
If you think you are struggling with a food addiction, please first know that being addicted to food is VERY VERY REAL. Don't doubt yourself like I did, irregardless of what others say.
Food Junkies will give you the stories of fellow food addicts and what they had to do to overcome the problem. I'm so grateful that I found this book and that I now have a voice.
This book was the book that finally gave me the ability to talk about this problem for the first time in my life.
It was a bit redundant but I didn't mind; I was just incredibly happy to finally have some HOPE.
If you think you are struggling with a food addiction, please first know that being addicted to food is VERY VERY REAL. Don't doubt yourself like I did, irregardless of what others say.
Food Junkies will give you the stories of fellow food addicts and what they had to do to overcome the problem. I'm so grateful that I found this book and that I now have a voice.
January 29, 2015
Wow! This is not a diet book but the start of a revolution that reads like a novel. Certain food IS addictive. Do not balk. Dr.Tarman's book is insightful. I could relate to all of her participants and was moved when she shared her own story. Just like AA this war is being fought at the front lines and Tarman is gently leading the charge. History will reflect she is a pioneer. Lawrence's story and Tarman's
compassion will stay with me forever.
compassion will stay with me forever.
January 3, 2017
Good info, but for a relatively small niche group. The #1 thing I learned is that I'm not a food addict - I just eat too much. Food addicts have trigger foods they can't stop eating in massive quantities. That's not my challenge.
December 13, 2016
A real, sound eye-opener, lots of good information.
December 8, 2019
Lots of excellent information. I just didn't care for the author's writing style.
February 18, 2019
This book includes a lot of stories from people's struggles with food addiction. Some people end up recovering but many do not. Some relapse and some succumb to the addiction. It was a bit surprising to read at the end that the author did not really have a solution, just more advice on what could be done. In general, the suggestions were to catch the disease early, to completely kick the foods that keep you coming back for more (salt, sugar, etc), and to participate in things like AA meetings/12-step programs/sharing your experiences with others frequently.
Favorite quotes from the book:
“Diabetes (unregulated high blood sugar) and obesity typically coexist as a condition that some called “diabesity.”
“Our obsession with food is a response to a mental compulsion that is beyond even our powerful hormonal drives to eat. This is what we call food addiction.”
“But, when a user chews the pills — thus destroying the slow-release mechanism — or snorts or injects the drug, it has a powerful and almost instantaneous effect on the brain, increasing the likelihood that the patient will become addicted.”
“The fibrous stalk that protects the sucrose of sugar cane, or the thick bark protecting the sap in a maple tree, limits the amount of sugar that a primate can ingest. But if one harvests and removes the sugar from the sugar cane or transforms the maple tree’s sap into syrup (or removes the honeycomb from a beehive to extract the honey), the product is one of the primary raw materials contributing to food addiction. It’s so easy to drop sugar cubes into coffee or pour maple syrup on ice cream, yet doing so results in an extraneous, “unnatural” process, which allows us to circumvent the consequences that would otherwise curb our consumption. We are able to experience an artificial high from the refined product that is far more powerful than what the natural version would otherwise allow us.”
“If food addicts could smoke or inject sugar, food addiction would be on the same playing field as cocaine or heroin. This understanding of the pharmacokinetics of addiction (pharmacokinetics is the study of the path of a drug once administered) has misled even researchers who study the addictive nature of food. Neuroscientist Dr. David Linden and other researchers halfheartedly call fats and sugars faintly addictive substances,” thus failing to grasp the essence of why something is addictive.[8] It is the intensity of the neurochemical surge and the immediacy of the substance’s transit to the brain, more than the nature of the substance itself, that propels addiction. The quicker the fix, the faster the addictive process. Cocaine is, in a sense, nothing more than a big bag of sugar ingested at higher speed.”
“Thyroid medication is also being used to treat obesity. Patients who suffer from low thyroid levels have a sluggish metabolism. This means that their body does not burn calories at the normal rate, which results in weight gain as well as feelings of mental and physical lethargy. Giving Eltroxin to people who have low thyroid levels will make them feel energetic and alert. Giving the drug as a metabolism booster to people with normal thyroid levels may lead to the desired weight loss but can trigger a host of side-effects, such as agitation, insomnia, diarrhea, tremors, and even the “buggy eye” swelling typical of someone suffering from Graves’ disease (a type of hyperthyroidism that creates an abundance of thyroid hormone). Moreover, by taking the extra hormone externally through medication, the body’s own need to make it will be suppressed (since there is more than enough in the medication) — any interruption in the drug, however, will result in the person becoming hypothyroid (thyroid-deficient) when they were not before.”
“The evidence has shown me, however, time and again, even to this day, that I am still a food addict. As I hope I have demonstrated in the many examples provided in this book, food addicts are always in recovery, always just one mouthful away from the next binge.”
Favorite quotes from the book:
“Diabetes (unregulated high blood sugar) and obesity typically coexist as a condition that some called “diabesity.”
“Our obsession with food is a response to a mental compulsion that is beyond even our powerful hormonal drives to eat. This is what we call food addiction.”
“But, when a user chews the pills — thus destroying the slow-release mechanism — or snorts or injects the drug, it has a powerful and almost instantaneous effect on the brain, increasing the likelihood that the patient will become addicted.”
“The fibrous stalk that protects the sucrose of sugar cane, or the thick bark protecting the sap in a maple tree, limits the amount of sugar that a primate can ingest. But if one harvests and removes the sugar from the sugar cane or transforms the maple tree’s sap into syrup (or removes the honeycomb from a beehive to extract the honey), the product is one of the primary raw materials contributing to food addiction. It’s so easy to drop sugar cubes into coffee or pour maple syrup on ice cream, yet doing so results in an extraneous, “unnatural” process, which allows us to circumvent the consequences that would otherwise curb our consumption. We are able to experience an artificial high from the refined product that is far more powerful than what the natural version would otherwise allow us.”
“If food addicts could smoke or inject sugar, food addiction would be on the same playing field as cocaine or heroin. This understanding of the pharmacokinetics of addiction (pharmacokinetics is the study of the path of a drug once administered) has misled even researchers who study the addictive nature of food. Neuroscientist Dr. David Linden and other researchers halfheartedly call fats and sugars faintly addictive substances,” thus failing to grasp the essence of why something is addictive.[8] It is the intensity of the neurochemical surge and the immediacy of the substance’s transit to the brain, more than the nature of the substance itself, that propels addiction. The quicker the fix, the faster the addictive process. Cocaine is, in a sense, nothing more than a big bag of sugar ingested at higher speed.”
“Thyroid medication is also being used to treat obesity. Patients who suffer from low thyroid levels have a sluggish metabolism. This means that their body does not burn calories at the normal rate, which results in weight gain as well as feelings of mental and physical lethargy. Giving Eltroxin to people who have low thyroid levels will make them feel energetic and alert. Giving the drug as a metabolism booster to people with normal thyroid levels may lead to the desired weight loss but can trigger a host of side-effects, such as agitation, insomnia, diarrhea, tremors, and even the “buggy eye” swelling typical of someone suffering from Graves’ disease (a type of hyperthyroidism that creates an abundance of thyroid hormone). Moreover, by taking the extra hormone externally through medication, the body’s own need to make it will be suppressed (since there is more than enough in the medication) — any interruption in the drug, however, will result in the person becoming hypothyroid (thyroid-deficient) when they were not before.”
“The evidence has shown me, however, time and again, even to this day, that I am still a food addict. As I hope I have demonstrated in the many examples provided in this book, food addicts are always in recovery, always just one mouthful away from the next binge.”
May 29, 2019
This is not the first time I read about food addiction. I first learned about the disease back in 1998 when I read Kay Sheppard's "Food Addiction, The Body Knows". I don't have the book by Kay Sheppard any more, but I do remember her prescribing a very rigid food plan and discouraging readers from eating normal family meals that weren't measured and weighed. She basically recommended that a food addict always "stick out" with her eating and I believe this can be very detrimental to that food serenity they talk about. Trying to follow that plan didn't help me.
This book is very informative and explains addiction in a manner that inspires compassion and understanding rather than judgment and stigma.
Sadly, the author herself appears to still be living far from that food serenity she talks about. Could it be that forever thinking about what you are going to eat, reporting to a sponsor, weighing and measuring (even drawing attention to your eating habits) visiting 12 step groups and thinking of herself as an addict are standing in the way of freedom?
Both Sheppard and Tarman say that food addiction is a chronic and progressive disease. I agree with it being chronic, since cravings for those favorite foods don't ever seem to disappear, but I disagree with it being progressive for everyone. I believe I'm addicted to sugar and flour. My kids have pointed out to me how my treats are usually cookies or cakes rather than candy or ice cream, and I have a hard time stopping after one cookie or one slice of cake. I do best if I keep these things out of the house and only bake on occasion. I've noticed that the more sweet things I eat, the more I crave them, but in the last 20 years, things haven't gotten any worse. If anything, I've noticed that I have more control over what I eat and I'm a lot less prone to binge as I used to in my teens. I do best when I'm not obsessing about food in any way and I'm simply eating normal servings of mostly healthy foods.
So, would I recommend this book? Yes. Thanks to this book, I've gained a deeper understanding of addiction and I have more compassion for those living with one. But read it knowing that you know your body and your situation best. If thinking about food, measuring and weighing, going to 12 step groups and abstaining from certain foods forever seems like prison, then perhaps the therapy she suggests is not the best for you, and that's ok. There are other approaches.
This book is very informative and explains addiction in a manner that inspires compassion and understanding rather than judgment and stigma.
Sadly, the author herself appears to still be living far from that food serenity she talks about. Could it be that forever thinking about what you are going to eat, reporting to a sponsor, weighing and measuring (even drawing attention to your eating habits) visiting 12 step groups and thinking of herself as an addict are standing in the way of freedom?
Both Sheppard and Tarman say that food addiction is a chronic and progressive disease. I agree with it being chronic, since cravings for those favorite foods don't ever seem to disappear, but I disagree with it being progressive for everyone. I believe I'm addicted to sugar and flour. My kids have pointed out to me how my treats are usually cookies or cakes rather than candy or ice cream, and I have a hard time stopping after one cookie or one slice of cake. I do best if I keep these things out of the house and only bake on occasion. I've noticed that the more sweet things I eat, the more I crave them, but in the last 20 years, things haven't gotten any worse. If anything, I've noticed that I have more control over what I eat and I'm a lot less prone to binge as I used to in my teens. I do best when I'm not obsessing about food in any way and I'm simply eating normal servings of mostly healthy foods.
So, would I recommend this book? Yes. Thanks to this book, I've gained a deeper understanding of addiction and I have more compassion for those living with one. But read it knowing that you know your body and your situation best. If thinking about food, measuring and weighing, going to 12 step groups and abstaining from certain foods forever seems like prison, then perhaps the therapy she suggests is not the best for you, and that's ok. There are other approaches.
May 19, 2023
Not a bad book, but not an original book.
This book is taking from other books and rephrasing it in a manner that is shorter and easier to inhale. But the good thing is that it's taking from several books and putting all that information together. The books that are used are referenced and repeatedly mentioned, so there is no doubt that this is not taking the runner's position in food addiction and the information that is available out there, but it's is trying to provide the information for you to get started today in withdrawing from food addiction.
The main point if the book were to be skipped because you just don't have the time: stop the trigger foods. If you don't know what that trigger food is: it is the one food you keep thinking about. The one food that turns your steering wheel late at night to pile-up behind the other cars. The food that levitates your had toward the cabinet and takes something out. That food needs to go (out and out of the house and the mind, don't even walk the aisle: just don't)
-If you can take that information and put it to good use. You don't need this book. But if you need help implementing it, then go ahead and read this book. Just be warned that there are a lot of boring stories about other people of which you just don't care about simply for the fact that you don't know them nor need their stories.
This book is good and recommend it if you really need that guidance mentioned above. Otherwise, skip it.
This book is taking from other books and rephrasing it in a manner that is shorter and easier to inhale. But the good thing is that it's taking from several books and putting all that information together. The books that are used are referenced and repeatedly mentioned, so there is no doubt that this is not taking the runner's position in food addiction and the information that is available out there, but it's is trying to provide the information for you to get started today in withdrawing from food addiction.
The main point if the book were to be skipped because you just don't have the time: stop the trigger foods. If you don't know what that trigger food is: it is the one food you keep thinking about. The one food that turns your steering wheel late at night to pile-up behind the other cars. The food that levitates your had toward the cabinet and takes something out. That food needs to go (out and out of the house and the mind, don't even walk the aisle: just don't)
-If you can take that information and put it to good use. You don't need this book. But if you need help implementing it, then go ahead and read this book. Just be warned that there are a lot of boring stories about other people of which you just don't care about simply for the fact that you don't know them nor need their stories.
This book is good and recommend it if you really need that guidance mentioned above. Otherwise, skip it.
March 17, 2019
You may have heard people say things like: I'm addicted to sugar, or bread, or ice cream, or insert whatever food they find particularly irresistible. But if you ever googled for food addiction treatment information or books, you might have been surprised to find just how little information is out there. We hear about the obesity epidemic and a new diet every other month, but the actual term “Food Addiction” is surprisingly poorly known or understood.
I think Vera does a great job in this book on both – explaining what food addiction is and isn’t and talking about possible treatment of it by abstinence from the addicting foods. I have read other books on eating disorders and found them very unhelpful. Vera explain the difference between certain eating disorders and food addiction, which answers some of the questions I didn’t even know I should have been asking.
Overall – very thorough, very informative and all the examples were chosen to illustrate points, not just to “fluff-up” the book.
I think Vera does a great job in this book on both – explaining what food addiction is and isn’t and talking about possible treatment of it by abstinence from the addicting foods. I have read other books on eating disorders and found them very unhelpful. Vera explain the difference between certain eating disorders and food addiction, which answers some of the questions I didn’t even know I should have been asking.
Overall – very thorough, very informative and all the examples were chosen to illustrate points, not just to “fluff-up” the book.
September 29, 2018
This book laid out my addiction to sugar, flour and wheat clearly. Vera does a wonderful job of unpacking her food addiction and others and helping you examine your own addiction. I thought my eating needed boundaries but I didn’t see the need to treat sugar like it was alcohol to an alcoholic but her description of the different stages of food addiction made it pretty clear to me that I ate sugar, wheat and flour like an alcoholic consumes alcohol. It’s been 35 days of abstaining from those ingredients and committing to 3 meals a day and the food cravings have eased tremendously. The first three weeks were hard but once I got it into my head that I just can’t have those ingredients and had to follow some sensible guidelines around food I just starting seeing those foods as not my food.
January 3, 2019
Ahh conflicted. I’m interested in exploring my relationship with food more this year. I often plan meals far ahead and can get pretty obsessive about what I eat + when. If I have a packet of biscuits I can’t control myself I’ll eat the whole thing. I’ve definitely eaten past the point of feeling full. I eat fast .. inhaling my food more so than chewing or savouring it.
This book offered some interesting ideas and the range of case studies and stories were powerful. It recommends a total abstinence approach a la AA and says that these sort of compulsions show addictive behaviour. Could be true. Going to read more books and make up my own mind. On top of not sure if I agree with the approach (I.e abstinence over moderation) I also thought some of the book was repetitive and I found myself skipping ahead.
This book offered some interesting ideas and the range of case studies and stories were powerful. It recommends a total abstinence approach a la AA and says that these sort of compulsions show addictive behaviour. Could be true. Going to read more books and make up my own mind. On top of not sure if I agree with the approach (I.e abstinence over moderation) I also thought some of the book was repetitive and I found myself skipping ahead.
February 28, 2024
I know this one has been a big hit and even in the Bariatric community. However, I feel like the entire book is just telling us what we already know!
Spoilers….
1. Food addiction exists. Check
2. Sugar is the devil. It makes it all worse. Check
3. Simply abstain from the sugar and other trigger foods or ingredients that send your addiction into a spiral. Check.
The book could have told us all of this in the first chapter, yet we spent hours hearing the same things over and over again. I assume the anecdotal stories could be helpful to some who don’t truly know they have a problem but other than that, I’m not sure I’m impressed!
Spoilers….
1. Food addiction exists. Check
2. Sugar is the devil. It makes it all worse. Check
3. Simply abstain from the sugar and other trigger foods or ingredients that send your addiction into a spiral. Check.
The book could have told us all of this in the first chapter, yet we spent hours hearing the same things over and over again. I assume the anecdotal stories could be helpful to some who don’t truly know they have a problem but other than that, I’m not sure I’m impressed!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2025
I can add this to the several resources that have brought me great strength over food addiction. I found this book to be very helpful. Some of the things that will stay with me are as follows
1. There is a stark difference between overeaters and food addicts.
2. If you are a food addict, you must identify your trigger food that cause you to go on a binge spiral.
3. You must eliminate these foods from your diet. And for me from my home and environment.
4. Overcoming food addiction can be very challenging but it can be done.
5. Not all food addicts are over weight. I fall in this category. But being a food addict puts you in a prison that can be very harmful to relationships.
1. There is a stark difference between overeaters and food addicts.
2. If you are a food addict, you must identify your trigger food that cause you to go on a binge spiral.
3. You must eliminate these foods from your diet. And for me from my home and environment.
4. Overcoming food addiction can be very challenging but it can be done.
5. Not all food addicts are over weight. I fall in this category. But being a food addict puts you in a prison that can be very harmful to relationships.
July 22, 2019
Dr. Tarman did original research on food addiction as a scientist at Princeton University. She also had personal food addiction issues, so her book comes both from a rigorous scientific background, and from her personal experience. Her co-author had food addiction and treatment experiences, too. This is an excellent book about addiction, and well worth reading. It is well-written with many examples of how food addiction has affected addicts' lives. Some of these may seem repetitious, but this is not a novel. It is a how-to to deal with food addiction.
May 9, 2021
This is a very informative and accurate book about eating disorders and food addiction. It especially recognizes Binge Eating Disorder as an illness. I question, however, the choice of front cover of the book. For a food addict, the image of sugary, scrumptious donuts, differently flavoured, piled up one on top of the other, is enough to trigger a binge. In my view, the cover contractricts the essence of the topic of the book, which does not say that overcoming food addiction is all about will power.
January 4, 2018
I saw Dr. Tarman at the library talking about this book. I was fascinated and learned a lot. I didn't have money to spend on a book at that time, but I was lucky and I won a copy through a draw. I found the book easy to read and it strengthened my resolve to kick the sugar habit while also helping to understand why I was having such a hard time doing it. I urge anyone who is struggling with this to read this book. It's life-changing.
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