Overeaters Anonymous: A Mutual-Help Fellowship for Food Addiction Recovery

Abstract The health and well-being of students in recovery from substance use disorder is increasingly being recognized as a priority on college campuses. This scoping review maps the state of the existing literature evaluating collegiate recovery programming to highlight research gaps and inform policy. We conducted a systematic search of articles related to collegiate recovery programming published before August 2020. The 15 extracted study characteristics included publication type, study design, primary outcomes, reporting of behavioral addictions and mutual-help groups, sample demographic information, school size, ownership, and funding source. The PRISMA-guided search strategy identified 357 articles for abstract review; of 113 articles retained for full-text review, 54 studies were identified for final inclusion. Primary outcomes were coded into four domains: clinical, lived experience, program characterization, and stigma. All but one of the articles were observational (57%) or qualitative (41%) research designs. Government or foundation grants funded only 11% of the studies. Findings suggest that collegiate recovery programs reduce risk of relapse, improve educational outcomes, and provide social support for students in recovery. The domains identified offer a framework for healthcare providers, college administrators, and researchers to understand and improve programs, thereby better serving this marginalized student group.

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Food Addiction

10.1093/med/9780190275334.003.0003 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Edison de Mello

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Food Industry ◽

Food Addiction ◽

The United States ◽

Pharmacological Intervention ◽

Addiction Recovery ◽

Physiological Factors ◽

Obesity Epidemic ◽

High Glycemic Index ◽

The Brain

Although an impressive and increasing amount of research has shown how particular foods affect brain chemistry and can lead to food addictions, the idea of food addiction as an actual disease is still controversial. The alarming growth in the obesity epidemic in the United States, however, is quickly eating away at this controversy. Research now shows that genetics, the nucleus accumbens, the gut bacteria (microbiota), and other physiological factors have a vast effect on obesity, cravings, binge eating, and food addiction. Speculation that the food industry has utilized the effects of the high glycemic index foods, such as refined starches, sugars, and fat have on the brain to engineer foods for taste, not nutrition and to get people “hooked” is also discussed. Integrative treatment approaches to food addiction that can synergically help with food addiction recovery are presented. These include biochemical restoration, IV nutrient therapy, meditation practices, pharmacological intervention, and more.

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Functional Medicine Approach to Addiction

10.1093/med/9780190275334.003.0018 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

George E. Muñoz ◽

Isabella Leoni Garcia

Keyword(s):

Stress Reduction ◽

Traditional Approach ◽

Food Addiction ◽

Addiction Recovery ◽

Lifestyle Modifications ◽

Reduction Techniques ◽

Nutrition Supplementation ◽

Whole Person ◽

Inflammatory State ◽

The Brain

The functional medicine protocol complements and enhances the traditional approach to recovery. Seen from a functional medicine perspective, the path to substance/and or food addiction recovery involves a multimodal approach. It shifts the focus from the imbalances in the brain and neurotransmitters to treat the whole person. It does so by considering the metabolic, hormonal, psychologic, immunologic, and neurologic functions that have been disturbed by addiction and that further perpetuate the inflammatory state of active addiction and during recovery phases. The gut-brain axis is reviewed from all aspects. Specific microbiome interventions, micronutrient, and vitamin deficiency support is reviewed. These interventions can be addressed through lifestyle modifications (including stress-reduction techniques), nutrition, supplementation, and in-depth case protocols, which will be further reviewed in the chapter.

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Emerging Adults, Mutual-Help Organizations, and Addiction Recovery

Emerging Adults and Substance Use Disorder Treatment ◽

10.1093/med-psych/9780190490782.003.0008 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 167-195

Author(s):

Brandon G. Bergman ◽

John F. Kelly ◽

Nilofar Fallah-Sohy ◽

Sarah Makhani

Keyword(s):

Emerging Adults ◽

Low Cost ◽

Emerging Adult ◽

Addiction Recovery ◽

Opioid Agonist ◽

Community Based ◽

Mutual Help ◽

Related Research ◽

Recovery Support ◽

Cost Efficient

A body of literature has shown that free, widely available mutual-help organizations (MHOs), such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), offer cost-efficient community-based sources of recovery support for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). Emerging adults (18–29 years old) are a prevalent group of individuals in the SUD treatment system who present unique challenges and typically have poorer outcomes than those of older adults (e.g., 30+ years). Given the need to identify low-cost strategies that can help destabilize the course of SUD for emerging adults, this chapter reviews the extent to which emerging adults participate in MHOs and the degree to which they benefit from participation in MHOs. The chapter also outlines the mechanisms through which MHO participation promotes better outcomes and the factors that influence emerging adults’ MHO participation and participation-related benefit. The chapter then highlights opportunities for timely but as-of-yet untapped targets for emerging adult recovery-related research, such as the intersection between MHO participation and opioid agonist treatment.

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