Is Binge Eating Disorder (BED) an Addiction? A Clinical Perspective
This is a topic where opinions vary widely, even among seasoned professionals. While some clinicians and researchers frame BED through the lens of addiction, others—myself included—approach it differently. Based on what I’ve seen work best clinically, I do not view BED as an addiction. Let’s explore why.
The Dopamine Theory: What It Says A central argument for categorizing BED as an addiction is based on the dopamine theory. This theory posits that since dopamine—a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward—is released when people eat certain foods (especially those high in sugar, fat, or salt), BED mirrors the neurological processes of substance use disorders. In this view, food becomes the “drug,” and binge eating is seen as a form of chemical dependency.
But here’s where that interpretation falls short.
We Are Wired for Dopamine: It’s Not Pathological Humans are naturally dopamine-seeking beings. The drive to pursue pleasurable experiences isn’t inherently disordered—it’s biological and evolutionary. We get dopamine hits from a wide range of healthy and adaptive experiences: listening to music, laughing with friends, reading, petting animals, engaging in sexual intimacy, or even solving a puzzle.
These natural surges in dopamine are part of our motivational and survival circuitry. We’re built to seek out what feels good and helps us survive. This doesn’t mean everything that increases dopamine is addictive. Otherwise, hugging a loved one would be classed as a behavioral addiction. So yes, food increases dopamine, but so does living.
BED is More About Regulation Than Dependence For individuals with BED, the repeated drive to binge is less about the food and more about affect regulation—that is, coping with overwhelming emotional states like:
Anxiety
Depression
Shame
Trauma activation
Loneliness
Emotional dysregulation due to attachment wounds
In this context, binge eating becomes a survival response—a way of soothing, numbing, or escaping intolerable emotional experiences. It’s a learned behavior that temporarily reduces distress, not a compulsive substance-seeking behavior driven by physical dependency.
Unlike substances that fundamentally alter the brain's chemistry and require physical detoxification, food is essential for life. People's relationships with food are complex and deeply embedded in developmental, psychological, and cultural systems.
The Problem with the Abstinence Model in BED Treatment In addiction treatment, the abstinence model is the gold standard—think of 12-step recovery for alcohol or drug dependence. But in BED, abstinence from specific foods—particularly those labeled as “bad” or “triggering”—tends to worsen symptoms, not relieve them.
Why?
Because restriction increases preoccupation. When certain foods are forbidden, they become more alluring. This “last supper” effect—where a person eats large quantities of a restricted food out of fear they won’t be allowed it again—fuels the binge-restrict cycle that characterizes BED.
Clinically, we often find that flexibility, not rigidity, leads to recovery. Intuitive eating principles and therapies like ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), EMDR, and IFS (Internal Family Systems) offer much more sustainable healing by addressing the underlying drivers—trauma, emotional pain, and identity conflicts—rather than blaming the food itself.
Impulsivity vs. Addiction: A Key Distinction Since binge eating can feel impulsive and hard to control, it’s understandable that people wonder: Isn’t that addiction?
It’s a valid question, but here’s where we need to separate impulsivity from addiction:
Impulsivity refers to acting quickly without forethought, often in response to intense emotions. It’s tied to emotional dysregulation and trauma, not physical dependency.
Addiction, on the other hand, involves a compulsive pattern of use, cravings, tolerance, withdrawal, and ongoing use despite harmful consequences. It usually requires abstinence to break the dependency cycle.
Binge eating often arises from emotional distress and is used as a coping strategy. People with BED are rarely chasing a high—they’re trying to stop anxiety, numb pain, or feel something in the midst of numbness. It’s more about regulation than compulsion.
So, while BED can feel impulsive and even compulsive, that doesn’t make it an addiction. It’s more accurately described as:
"A survival response that looks impulsive, feels compulsive, but is rooted in emotion regulation, trauma, and unmet needs—not substance dependence."
Key Takeaways
BED is not best understood as an addiction, though it shares some superficial similarities with substance use.
Dopamine release is natural and not inherently pathological. The pursuit of pleasure does not equal addiction.
BED is primarily a regulatory strategy—a coping mechanism to manage distress, not a physiological dependence.
Abstinence models may backfire in BED treatment by increasing shame, obsession, and the likelihood of binges.
Trauma-informed, compassion-focused, and flexible approaches are far more effective for long-term recovery.