Join me in taking the NY Times Magazine Quiz: Are You Addicted to Food?
Part A: Answer 0 for never; 1 for once a month; 2 for two to four times a month; 3 for two to three times a week; and 4 for more than 4 times a week.
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I find myself consuming certain foods even though I am no longer hungry. (DK Score: 4. Actually 4×4=16, if we are asked to uphold a Monk-level integrity standard here. I could eat ice cream 3 meals a day.)
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I feel sluggish or fatigued from overeating. (DK Score: 2. Shocking actually. I think I have built up a gorging stamina.)
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I have had physical withdrawal symptoms like agitation and anxiety when I cut down on certain foods (not including caffeinated drinks). (DK Score: Hmmmm. What if your normal condition is being agitated and anxious? Let’s split the baby here and give me a 2.)
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My behavior with respect to food and eating causes me significant distress. (DK Score: 1. I’m should get “negative” points here. Eating actually brings me incredible joy and peace. That is, until my pants begin to snug up. Then we’re talking sirens.)
Part B: Answer Yes or No to the next two questions.
- I keep consuming the same types or amounts of food despite significant emotional and/or physical problems related to my eating. (DK Score: NO. Full disclosure…I do consume a abnormal amount of chocolate ice cream, chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. Latest addiction (no pun intended): 100 calorie “Healthy Choice” Premium Fudge Bars. (3 per sitting.) But, I don’t encounter emotional or physical problems related to my eating. (God Bless my metabolism and gene pool.))
- Eating the same amount of food does not reduce negative emotions or increase pleasurable feelings the way it used to. (DK Score: YES. But I’m not sure that I even understand the question. I eat. I feel the same. Yes.)
Score: If you answered “yes” to Part B #1 and/or Part B #2 and answered 3 or 4 to two or more of the other questions in Part A, you may meet the criteria for food addiction as defined by the Yale Food Addiction Scale.
DK Grade: I was sweating it out…but I PASSED! The researchers at Yale say I’m GOOD. Time for Daddy to go treat himself to an ice cream bar!
See full article in The NY Times Magazine – Craving an Ice-Cream Fix
Live & Learn 
My kryptonite is chocolate – preferably dark chocolate almond bark.
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Mine is milk chocolate with almonds. No shut off valve. Can eat till I burst.
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Well…since we’re talking ice cream, mine is strawberry with fresh strawberries and walnuts mixed in, at the Cold Stone Creamery. I passed the test, I’m someone who forgets to eat at all. That must also be some kind of problem. I think it’s called “too much to do and not enough time.” 🙂
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Ahhhh, Cold Stone. There’s a 1000 calories per hit. Strawberry with fresh strawberries…great choice…
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Ice cream…mmmmmmmm. Just say the word and I head towards DQ….Love the peanut butter cup blizzards…absolutely no will power when it comes to these. I passed the “test”, but may just have to stop by DQ once I leave the office…only a 10 minute detour.:)
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DQ! What a Canuck you are Nat. That being said, where and when you and I grew up, DQ was our only choice! Peanut Butter Cup blizzards. Hmmmmmm.
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My weakness is nachos. Any place, any time. But I passed the test. Tomorrow morning, 6:00 am, I shall go run several miles to work off my love for nachos. Lots of running, lots of nachos- it is all about balance:) Thanks for sharing.
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Laughing. So, do you chant “Na-chos” – “Na-chos” – “Na-chos” in step as you run?
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I think I’d join Kristin on the nachos craving. I’ll always choose salty over sweet.
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Another for Nachos….
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SPLIT THE BABY??? Who ARE you? Solomon?
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Still laughing!
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I’m laughing, too! That was a gruesome image, Dave. Until I started reading your blog I considered myself an optimist but I seem to be twigging onto the darkest moments in posts that are otherwise very funny. Good thing I don’t do a psychology blog. Now – it’s back to the light – the running – maybe even some George Winston.
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Laughing harder now. 🙂
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Laughing…I love it when you talk to yourself and let us listen, David. And while I don’t quite possess your {ahem} dedication to eating items of the cacao persuasion, I must confess that a good ice cream cone suits me right down the ground now and again. And since we’re in full confession mode here, I polished off a kiddie cone of Moosetracks quite handily last night (vanilla ice cream with huge chunks of dark chocolate and little peanut butter cups scattered liberally throughout). Mmmmmm, that’s all I’m sayin’….. 🙂
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Wow, no sugar, salt, junk food addictions. Yet, she walks up and down a ladder that goes to nowhere. I don’t get it. Now, Moosetracks, that is something special. I can vacuum this stuff up in gallons.
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I think I want what Lori had last night…I passed, none of it makes me crazy, though I do like chocolate, and mocha chip ice cream is my absolute fav..
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None of it makes you crazy. OK, I had this wrong. I pegged you for at least 1 or 2 addictions. Hmmmmm. Leading the way again, huh, girl?
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Hardly..and lets just say that I have a slew of other craziness, which safely precludes me from leading the way. 🙂
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I loooove Ice-creams, but not allowed to eat. What a pity.
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Wow. Not sure what I would do if I was banned from ice cream. Can’t imagine a substitute but I’m sure I would find it. Quickly.
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thanks, but you cannot substitute ice cream with any other thing. Sometimes I give in to the temptation and suffer from bad throat for 2/3 months.
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Passed … whew. My weakness is ripple potato chips. If the bag opens, I am lost!
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Laughing. Ripple potato chips. So Canadian of your Laurie. 🙂
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No weaknesses anymore. It used to be chocolate cake with ice cream. I do have a liking for treacle tart, but only have it as a treat. I’m very strong minded. If I decide something is bad for me, I just stop eating it and find something else that’s equally tasty that I can tolerate. I’m not good with anything with cow’s milk in it — digestion-wise or re the clarity of my singing voice.
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There you go again Sarah, demonstrating you have achieved a higher plane when the rest of us wallow in our sugar and salt fixes. Good for you. Lead the way.
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I absolutely love macadamias and cashew nuts. 🙂
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Me too. But, I can eat almonds in huge volumes. Back the truck up.
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Passed the quiz…not addicted. I do love my snacks of any kind. You name it i like it!! I was with you on the milk chocolate & almonds till the last year. For health reasons now on dark chocolate & coconut milk ice cream.
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Coconut milk ice cream. Hmmmmmm. Interesting choice. Never tried it.
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