For the thousands of men and women with disordered eating habits, they might not realize how much their disorder has in common with addiction. But as we learn more about the addiction model, the more apparent the similarities between eating disorders and addiction are. Viewing eating disorders through the lens of addiction allows for more clarity in how to treat and understand the patterns of disordered eating.

An eating disorder refers to patterns of disordered eating, in various ways—

Out of the many co-morbid illnesses that often accompany addiction, eating disorders are no exception. Many women and men struggle with eating disorders on a daily basis. Sometimes, the eating disorder and the addiction goes hand-in-hand. In fact, co-morbidity rates are high, and the rates of substance use disorder among those with eating disorders is high—“up to 35 percent of drug abusers have eating disorders.”

But more recently, it has been found that eating disorders and substance use disorder share more in common than previously thought, since the two disorders involve a lack of control. Much like an alcoholic might respond to a stressful situation by choosing to drink alcohol, someone with an eating disorder engages in disordered eating, whether that means avoiding food, bingeing on food, purging food, or other behaviors. Some addicts might feel addicted to the feeling of hunger, and rely on starvation in order to control both their weight, and their dependence on using food to normalize their moods and emotions. Regardless of the disorder, someone with a diagnosed eating disorder feels that no matter how hard they try, they are incapable of controlling their eating habits.

Here are some similarities between eating disorders and addictions:

-secret behavior to protect one’s habits
-inability to control behavior
-obsession with food or avoiding food
-engagement in behavior to cope with anxiety or stress
-continued behavior in spite of negative consequences

Medical professionals have begun to recognize the similarities between addiction and eating disorders. Hopefully, this recognition will help many to overcome both disordered eating habits and addiction, though the road is long and complex.