Can intuitive eating be helpful to individuals with ultra-processed food addiction?
by David A. Wiss & Timothy D. Brewerton
Intuitive Eating can be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities as a harm-reduction approach to reduce the adverse effects of chronic dieting and promote a positive body image. However, this philosophy systematically excludes individuals who suffer from ultra-processed food addiction, a marginalized group likely searching for recognition of the mental health challenges they face. We think there is great value in recognizing hedonic eating as relevant to eating disorders and finding ways to integrate this science into treatment paradigms safely. If one of the goals of eating disorder treatment is to reduce black-and-white thinking around food, then eating disorder providers should also reduce black-and-white thinking around food philosophies.
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Abstract
Evidence supporting the concept of ultra-processed food addiction (UPFA) continues to grow, but safe and effective intervention strategies are less clear. In the eating disorder field, food addiction has not only been controversial but, among some groups, also vehemently opposed.
This chapter explores the dialectics associated with divergent food philosophies: one that implicates ultra-processed foods as problematic for health, and one that aims to fully legitimize ultra-processed foods and implicates “diet culture” as the intervention target.
The authors discuss the shortcomings of both the food addiction construct and the Intuitive Eating model (a non-diet revolution). Modifications to Intuitive Eating principles are offered for individuals with UPFA. The authors argue that there are ways to embrace and encourage food and body-positive messages while also honoring the neurobiological implications of substance-related disorders, including UPFA. For those with UPFA, intuition may become more accessible by eating mostly unprocessed foods.
The authors consider that there is great value in recognizing hedonic eating not only as relevant to society but also for some subtypes of eating disorders, particularly binge-type. Integrating this science into food policy and treatment paradigms should be done with sensitivity to the non-diet movement, for example, by discussing the impact of ultra-processed foods on mood and brain health without perpetuating diet culture.
