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Food Addiction is a type of behavioral addiction in which a person becomes addicted to food. There is a compulsive consumption of palatable food high in fat and sugar (mostly junk food) irrespective of the adverse consequences.
The consumption of such food items can trigger a chemical reaction in the brain that induces a certain feeling of satisfaction and pleasure. It works so that these food items, full of fat and sugar, can supercharge the brain’s reward system in the same way as an addictive drug does, i.e., this hyperstimulation triggers a dopamine production and a person ends ups in an addictive cycle that can also lead to tolerance, cravings, and withdrawal.
It can be caused due to stress, trauma, abnormal brain chemistry, and emotional imbalance.
It can lead to various consequences such as cardiovascular diseases, digestive issues, obesity, diabetes, depression, reproductive problems, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, stroke, etc.
If in doubt, meet a mental health expert to understand it better.
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