Is Sugar an Addiction?: Let the Controversy Begin!

This is a question I get from followers all the time when I talk about different addictions. So many folks want me to talk about sugar, but the question is, is sugar actually qualified as an addiction? So, as an addiction therapist, let's break it down for you. For something to be considered an addiction, there needs to be a recurring pattern of consequences that are disruptive to the individual's life. So, now, where sugar is tricky is we need food to survive, and sugar is a great source of calories.

However, in this modern day in the United States, we have an overabundance of calories, and therefore, we have an obesity problem. So that in and of itself is a consequence for many people who consume too many calorie dense products like sugar. So you can argue it is something that is consequential and can have recurring issues and life disruptions. For folks, the thing to understand is loving sugar is built into our circuitry. Everybody in the United States probably eats a little bit too much sugar, or at least wish personally, that they could eat less, maybe for reasons of wanting to look better or feel better.

And it's really difficult to cut back, and there are consequences that could come, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's an addiction. However, there is a group of people that struggles far more than the rest. So let me introduce the concept of binge eating disorder. Now, binge eating disorder is one of the eating disorders, and that's characterized by individuals feeling a loss of control. Eating extreme amounts in one sitting to the point of discomfort, and that leads to an emotional connection with the food.

Often they have a lot of guilt, shame, a complete loss of self control around it, and that could lead to all sorts of different consequences, both physical and emotional. So, for these individuals who struggle with eating compulsively, for them, it is an emotional crutch. It's often a response to coping with anxiety or depression or other underlying mental health issues. And this is why it makes it so difficult for them to stop, cut back, or control it whatsoever. Now, there is some controversy in the professional community.

Some people do not like to qualify things like sex or food, things we need for survival. To actually be an addiction, they would refer it more to as a compulsive behavior. However, those words are often used interchangeably for substance use. One could argue someone is compulsively using substances. So it's all about how you want to classify it. In the end, I don't think sugar, for the vast majority of folks, is an addiction. However, when you get to that level of an eating disorder, a binge eating disorder, that it's safe to say that for them, yeah, it is an addiction or compulsive issue.

So even if that is something you struggle with a little bit or a lot, there are treatments out there. There is help and support for individuals to help manage their food intake and be healthier, both physically and emotionally.