TV doctor's 10-question quiz can help you uncover a harmful food addiction

14 February 2024 , 11:10

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Dr Michael Mosley says many of us might have 'secret' food addictions (Image: Getty Images)

We all have our favourite foods, but according to Dr Michael Mosley we could be addicted to certain ones without even knowing it.

May of us try to enjoy our favourite foods, whether that be cakes, biscuits, crisps or chocolate, in moderation. However, according to the TV doctor, who regularly appears on BBC's The One Show, you could be dangerously addicted to them.

The health guru, who created the Fast 800 diet, has previously opened up about his own addiction to chocolate, and has explained some of the risks people are exposed to because of an addiction they don't know they have. People often find it hard to give up certain foods also find it very hard to lose weight.

In order to help people uncover whether this is something they should be aware of, Dr Mosley has created a 10-question quiz, based on the Yale Food Addiction Scale. If you answer 'yes' to more than three of the questions, you "may be in trouble," according to the health expert.

You'll find the questions below:

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1. When I start eating this food, I can't stop and end up eating much more than I intended.
2. I keep on eating this food even when I am no longer hungry.
3. I eat to the point where I feel physically ill.
4. I find myself craving this food when I'm stressed.
5. If it isn't in the house, I will get in the car and drive to the nearest shop that sells it.
6. I use this food to make myself feel better.
7. I hide this food so even those close to me don't know how much of it I eat.
8. Eating it causes anxiety and feelings of self-loathing and guilt.
9. Although I no longer get much pleasure from eating it, I keep on doing so.
10. I have tried to give this food up but failed.

According to Dr Mosley, addiction is triggered by a "dopamine hit" in the brain, which causes a rush of happiness chemicals. Your brain then strives to replicate this feeling regularly - leaving you craving it. He explained this means you could be addicted to something unhealthy, because it "makes your brain happy".

Writing for Mail Online, he added: "A study last year in the journal Cell showed daily consumption of high-fat/high-sugar snacks rewires the brain so we seek more of these foods."

The expert urged people who think they have a food addiction to speak to your GP, who can help you with the next steps.

If you're struggling, Beat provides Helplines for people of all ages, offering support and information about eating disorders no matter where you are in your journey. For support in England, call 0808 801 0677, for Scotland it's 0808 801 0432, for Wales call 0808 801 0433 and for Northern Ireland it's 0808 801 0434.

Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz