Junk Is A Four-Letter Word

Think you have a problem with fries? Or an overzealous craving for candy? The actual problem might be how you think about those foods. Karen Robock explains.

- Karen Robock

WE’VE ALL THROWN AROUND THE PHRASE “junk food” to describe everything from chocolate chip cookies to a meal from your favourite burger joint. But for some people, it’s a term loaded with guilt, shame and even dread. For someone who struggles with what they consider a junk food addiction, these seemingly harmless indulgences can be at the heart of a serious mental and physical health problem.

“Here, at the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC), we strongly advise against this type of language when talking about food,” says Emily Tam, a special projects lead at the NEDIC and a registered dietitian. Using moral-laden language, such as “bad,” “clean” and “junk,” can make people feel guilty and ashamed when they eat these foods and subsequently lead to poor relationships with food. “It’s important to understand that using these types of words and being unnecessarily restrictive [with what you eat] can lead to binge eating and what feels like food addiction,” she says.

Not all nutrition professionals agree on whether food can be considered clinically addictive, but there is a consensus on the toll that this type of eating can take. “I don’t think we have sufficient scientific evidence to support this theory that junk food addiction exists,” says Tam. “But that’s not to say that people don’t experience problematic eating as being an addiction.” If someone finds themselves eating in ways that feel out of control, it may be helpful for them to label their eating difficulties as an addiction. “That’s their experience, and it’s totally valid,” she says.