CEO Food Addiction Reset, LLC Seattle, Washington, United States
Disclosure(s):
Joan R. Ifland, PhD, MBA, FACN: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: The objective of the presentation is to describe the research supporting an online immersion model for recovery from addiction to processed foods and the consequences of processed food consumption. The presentation also reports on preliminary results from an online processed food recovery community.
Methods: There are two methods. 1. A literature review of new findings in processed food addiction and its consequences. Search terms include ultra-processed foods, food addiction, nutrition, diabetes prevention, cognitive restoration, mirror neurons, and remission. 2. Preliminary results from an online immersion program. The method is four self-reported cases of diseases put into remission by members of an online processed food recovery community.
Results: Findings of the literature review suggest the need for more intense treatment than has been the norm in weight-loss and eating disorders programs. Findings in obese populations consuming high quantities of processed foods show brain alterations consistent with severe drug addiction, and the presence of DSM 5 Substance Use Disorder diagnostic criteria above the threshold for severity. Research also shows addictive properties in processed foods and US consumption of addictive processed foods at 73% of calories consumed. There is extensive consistent support for widespread processed food addiction. The level of care for severe addictions provides for the long-term development of coping skills while reducing exposure to relapse cues often provided through peer support.
Clinical observations are from an online community for recovery from processed foods founded in January 2018. The model surrounds members with compassionate messaging through 15-17 hours of live zoom chats daily, a daily email newsletter, a daily podcast, 24-hour Facebook groups, small home groups of 7-12 Members on private Messenger, specialty groups on Private Messenger, and one-on-one sessions as needed.
Conclusions: Research suggesting that overeating is the manifestation of a severe addiction to processed foods supports a treatment model equal in intensity to long-term residential treatment for recovery from drug/alcohol addiction. The research suggests that low levels of intensity may explain the failure of weight-loss and eating disorders programs.
