Concerned About Overeating?

Here’s what you need to know about food addiction

For some people, eating a bit of junk food is a rare indulgence but for some it is a compulsion driven in part by the way some foods are designed. Syda Productions/Shutterstock

For many of us, eating particular foods can be comforting: a pick-me-up during a hard task; a reward after a long day at work; a satiating end to a lovely dinner.

But some people have a compulsive and uncontrolled urge to eat particular foods, especially hyper-palatable “junk” foods. This can impact their day-to-day functioning and their ability to fulfill social, work, or family roles.