Tag: eating disorders

The Meaning of Addiction

Let’s review the meaning of addiction.

Addiction is a way to meet our needs and wants in a misapplied or dysfunctional way. It is any activity that you cannot control and it gets worse over time. It is the use of a substance or an experience (action) for the purpose of removing pain or gaining pleasure.

The most common addictions known and discussed publicly are:

  • Drugs
  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco
  • Gambling
  • TV, gaming, Internet

Lesser-known but also common addictions are:

  • Eating disorders
  • Anorexia, bulimia
  • Shopping
  • Rage

It’s Not Just Men

So far, I have only addressed one aspect of addiction. It is the most commonly discussed addiction in the LDS culture. However, it is only one addiction. According to a 1995 study, as many as 10 million females are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder.

There is even a new addiction coined by Dr. Steven Bratman called Orthorexia to describe those who obsess about healthy eating and not about being thin and losing weight.

Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders receive treatment. The mortality rate for those suffering from an eating disorder is staggering.