Are Eating Disorders Considered Addictions? with Iris Epstein RD, CDCES, CEDS-S, CAI
Are eating disorders actually a type of addiction?
It’s easy to think of eating disorders as, well, a disorder. But when we start to really dive into the nitty gritty, are they actually considered an addiction?
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We’ve all heard people throw the word “addiction” around casually, right? Like, "I'm addicted to coffee," or, "I’m addicted to this podcast" (which, let’s be real, you probably are). But what happens when we start talking about it in the context of serious eating disorders? That’s where things get a bit sticky. Spoiler: This isn’t the food addiction conversation.
In today’s episode, I am joined by Iris Epstein. She’s been around the block a few times (like, a couple of decades) and has enough letters after her name to make your head spin. We’re talking certified dietitian, diabetes expert, eating disorder savior, and now—just to keep things spicy—she’s a certified family interventionist.
Together, we’re unpacking how eating disorders might just share more DNA with addiction than you'd think. And no, we’re not getting stuck in the clinical weeds—although, yes, we will get nerdy about brain chemistry for a minute. But mostly, this is going to be an open conversation that will hopefully make you rethink what you thought you knew about addiction.
Since 2004, Iris Epstein RD, CDCES, CEDS-S, CAI has focused her career on eating disorder awareness, treatment, family coaching, and intervention at her practice in Pomona, New York. Her philosophy is one of compassion along with hard work to break through the determined mindset that takes hold of people with eating disorders. By addressing the medical and malnutrition issues that give eating disorders their strength, we can weaken the grip they have on our clients. Just as there are many causes for eating disorders, it often takes a variety of strategies to treat them. Iris is confident that her team at the Nutrition Improvement Center can help provide a successful path for our clients to resume a healthy and balanced relationship with food and their bodies. Iris recently graduated from the ARISE intervention program where she received her certification in family coaching and intervention work for addiction. She believes that the addiction model has a place in the eating disorder recovery process.
In this episode, we’re talking about:
Whether eating disorders should be classified as addictions and the confusion around defining addiction.
The similarities between substance use disorders and eating disorders, such as compulsive behaviors despite negative consequences.
The role of family dynamics and generational patterns in perpetuating eating disorders and substance use disorders.
The ARISE intervention program.
How eating disorders can be connected with trauma backgrounds and co-occur with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
The brain response similarities between addiction and eating disorders, including cravings, rituals, and obsessive behaviors.
Brain changes in eating disorders.
How surrounding environmental factors significantly impact recovery and relapse in both addiction and eating disorders.
Challenges in classifying eating disorders as addictions due to societal and medical perceptions of "addiction" and the uniqueness of food.
Applying 12-step programs to eating disorders.
The role of fear and phobia in eating disorders.
Note: We’re celebrating three amazing years of the Understanding Disordered Eating podcast! Just as a reminder, this is the last episode for the next two weeks! We will be back on September 10th. In the meantime, catch up on our older episodes—they're still gems!
Tweetable Quotes
"Eating disorders just don't happen fully. It starts sometimes as innocently as having a diet.” - Iris Epstein
"When you remove the substance, then their brain feels relief and calm. When it's there, their brains go into more of a depressed mode, an anxious mode." - Iris Epstein
"You have to reestablish good connections with people. And I think that's where the secrecy and everything comes into play." - Iris Epstein
"Eating disorders are a coping mechanism for survival." - Iris Epstein
Resources
Connect with Iris Epstein here!
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Related Episodes
Episode 138. Substance Use and Eating Disorders with Sydney Greene
Episode 137. Eating Disorder Recovery Cannot Happen Without This
Episode 126. Lying, Deception, and Eating Disorders with Tom Wooldridge, PsyD, ABPP, FIPA, CEDS-S
Episode 94. Unraveling the Truth: It's Not About the Food
Episode 87. Ultra Processed Food, Food Addiction and Eating Disorders with Dr. David Wiss
Episode 83. Food and Desire with Dr. Judith Brisman
Episode 82. Secrets and Eating Disorders with Dr. Kathryn Zerbe
Episode 78. Bone Health and Disordered Eating with Dr. Marci Goolsby
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Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.
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