Are eating disorders addictions? The DSM-5-TR does not classify eating disorders as addictions. However, there is often a great deal of overlap between eating disorders and addictions. In some cases, one can say that someone with an eating disorder has an addictive personality disorder or struggles with addictiveness and compulsiveness: when tested for an addiction scale, patients with anorexia and bulimia had high levels of addictiveness and obsessive-compulsive behavior.
The Science Behind Eating Disorders and Addictions
Science has long debated whether eating disorders qualify as addictions. In particular, there is substantial debate over whether anorexia is an addiction because self-starvation, followed by things like excessive exercise, can qualify as an addiction to natural opioid production in the body. There have been many personality traits associated with bulimia and anorexia that are similar to addiction, including preoccupation with weight and excessive or impulsive behaviors relating to that.
Are Eating Disorders Addictions?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), no, eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are not addictions. The newest DSM does not contain the word addiction and, in fact, has a chapter on “Substance-Related Disorders” in place of drug or alcohol addiction and related addictions.
The reason behind this change was new information on the neurobiology relating to substance-related addictions and gambling disorders, predicated on impulse control and changes to the brain. While eating disorders do have some control over behavior, they don’t have the same neurobiological responses as addictions and are therefore classified under their own chapter relating to eating disorders. Nevertheless, while there are many shared traits between addiction and eating disorders like anorexia, particularly compulsivity and changes to dopamine and serotonin levels, they are considered two separate conditions.
If you or someone close to you is struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important to find proper treatment from a residential center like Remedy Therapy Center.
Getting Help with Remedy Therapy Center
At our treatment center, we embrace the diversity of all bodies and work to create an environment that has weight-inclusive treatment. By promoting nutritional rehabilitation and incorporating a wide range of therapies, we can enhance the efficacy of our eating disorder treatments. We aim to provide individuals with the education and tools they need to make sustainable changes in their behavior and empower them to take an active role in recovery by creating a positive relationship with food. To support long-term recovery goals, we offer body-positive activities aiming to improve self-esteem, support mental health, and reduce the risk of relapse.
At Remedy Therapy Center, we provide comprehensive care for eating disorders regardless of how many addictive qualities those disorders may or may not possess. Our goal is to offer help for those with disordered eating or eating disorders in the form of comprehensive residential care that includes individual and group therapy as well as experiential modalities. If you are worried about an eating disorder, we can help.
If you are wondering if eating disorders are addictions, call our team to learn more about addictions versus disorders and how we can provide comprehensive care.
FAQ
Can I Have an Eating Disorder and Addiction at the Same Time?
Yes, it is possible to struggle with an addiction to drugs or alcohol as well as an eating disorder at the same time. However, it is important to note that these two are distinguished from one another in terms of the type of condition they are, and they require separate treatment.
What is the Difference Between An Eating Disorder and Disordered Eating?
Disordered eating is somewhere between regular eating and an eating disorder, meaning it can include certain behaviors and symptoms associated with an eating disorder, but doesn’t necessarily happen to the same degree or frequency.
It is important to understand the symptoms of both, though, as disordered eating can be a precursor to an eating disorder.
What is the Difference Between a Disorder and an Addiction?
Those who struggle with addiction to drugs or alcohol are generally regarded as having a substance use disorder. Officially, the term addiction does not exist in the DSM, but the term disorder exists throughout. Addiction is a disorder, and it can apply to several activities or substances, including addiction to sugar or an eating disorder categorized by certain maladaptive behaviors.
Are Eating Disorders the Same as Addiction?
Eating disorders are not characterized under addictions in the DSM, and though there are similarities, there are more important critical differences between eating disorders and addiction that place eating disorders in their own category of mental health disorders.
What Counts as An Addiction?
Addiction is a chronic condition characterized by compulsive behaviors despite knowing any harmful consequences, but it involves a large interplay of factors like genetics and brain circuitry. In essence, someone who has an addiction has completely lost control over their behavior or their use of certain substances, leading to negative impacts on all areas of life.
How Can You Treat an Eating Disorder?
At Remedy Therapy Center, we provide a medical approach that incorporates nutritional health and medication management. This includes making sure that all of our clients can restore their physical health with nutritional stability, personalized meal plans, and nutritional education. Ongoing care can include medication for co-occurring mental health disorders like OCD, depression, or anxiety.
What Therapy is Used to Treat an Eating Disorder?
At our treatment center, we focus on evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and body image therapy. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we can ensure that physical, emotional, and nutritional needs are met in a way that promotes long-lasting recovery.
Do I Need Detox for an Eating Disorder?
With addictions, the first, essential step to treatment is detox, where all the remaining toxins from substances that were abused are flushed out of the system. Eating disorders work differently and can include medical supervision to monitor things like medical status and nutritional intake, as well as early interventions for any potential medical complications.