Is Constantly Thinking About Food A Disorder?

Whether you’re restricting or thinking about food nonstop, your mind and body are out of balance. I’ve experienced the same. It is a preoccupation with food, weight, numbers, etc. With some support, I know you can build a greater understanding of what is going on and how best to work through it.

It may take time to fully understand your own relationship with food, and in the process, it can be easy to let feelings of guilt, blame, or frustration build up when you can’t stop thinking about food ( 19 ). However, constantly feeling down in response to food thoughts may not be helpful in the long run.

While food thoughts triggered by the homeostatic pathway are a result of true physical hunger, the hedonic pathway might cause you to think about food even when your body doesn’t need calories for energy. The hedonic pathway is triggered by many things, including ( 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 ):

Many people with eating disorders suffer from low self esteem, and often have other mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety. To prepare food and be strong enough not to eat it, reinforces their self-worth and, to some extent, empowers them. Pleasure from food is gained in an almost voyeuristic manner, by watching others eat.

Can’t stop thinking about food?

Of course we can’t stop thinking about food! When you think about it, it’s a great distraction from the larger issues and emotions that we don’t want to face (like that anxiety and loneliness I just mentioned).

No one wants to feel uncomfortable. That’s one reason why we eat when we’re not hungry.

After you address the feelings that fuel food-obsession, it’s time to look at the beliefs that cause self-sabotage. These beliefs are at the root of always thinking about food!

You cannot think your way through food-obsession! That would only push you further into your head. You need external help — either with a self-inquiry style workbook or by working with a therapist or coach.

Overeating (and obsessive thoughts about food) was never about the food, in my opinion. Rather, it was always about the intense desire to buffer ourselves from our pain.

How much time should we think about food?

There’s no ‘ideal’ amount of time we should be thinking about food, but there is a normal and abnormal amount.

The telltale signs of disordered eating depend on what eating disorder the person is presenting with or at risk of. But there are common behaviours.

If you’re reading this and it’s dawned on you that you present signs of disordered eating, know that not only is this common, but there are great support networks to help.