Tag: Behavioral health

Millions of Americans struggle with disordered eating. Understanding what are some eating behaviors, ranging from intentional choices to unconscious patterns, is vital for improving overall health and well-being.

Studies show restrictive dieting can increase the likelihood of overeating, which is often mistaken for a lack of control. If you have wondered, "Why do I have no self discipline with food?" the answer is more complex and involves a mix of biology, psychology, and learned habits.

Studies on rats have shown that sugar can trigger addiction-like behaviors including bingeing, craving, and withdrawal, raising the question: is sugar another word for a drug? While not clinically classified as a drug, its effects on the brain's reward system share striking similarities with addictive substances.

According to a 2021 review of 196,211 subjects, food addiction may affect up to 20 percent of the population. This emerging field of research investigates whether certain highly palatable, processed foods can trigger addictive-like behaviors in some individuals.

Research indicates that pica, a disorder involving the craving and consumption of non-food items, affects 10% to 30% of young children and can also occur in adults. If you are wondering, "Why do I feel like eating ash?", it is a strong signal that an underlying medical or psychological issue needs professional attention.

While putting non-food items in their mouth is common for young children, persistent eating of non-nutritive substances for a month or more may be a sign of pica. This eating disorder can affect people of all ages and is often linked to underlying medical or psychological issues. Understanding the diagnostic process is the crucial first step toward managing the condition and addressing any related health complications.

According to the American Dental Association, ice is one of the top nine foods that can harm your teeth. While a harmless habit for some, persistently chewing a lot of ice could be your body's signal for an underlying issue like iron deficiency anemia, a specific type of pica known as pagophagia, or even a response to stress.

According to a meta-analysis of 70 studies, pica, the compulsive eating of non-food items, has an estimated prevalence of about 28% worldwide in pregnant women. When an individual experiences an uncontrollable desire to eat non-food items like chalk, it is a significant warning sign that the body is signaling an underlying issue. In other words, craving chalk is a strong indicator that something is wrong with your health and should not be ignored.

According to the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5, pica is the persistent eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances over a period of at least one month. Individuals with this eating disorder may consume a wide array of unusual items, ranging from harmless substances like ice to dangerous materials such as paint chips.

According to one review, more than 35% of adults report turning to food monthly to cope with their feelings, specifically seeking high-calorie and high-fat foods during periods of stress. This common behavior, known as emotional eating, uses food not to satisfy physical hunger, but as a mechanism to manage difficult emotions like stress, sadness, anxiety, or boredom.