ABSTRACT
A common confusion regarding "abstinence" in the treatment of processed food addiction (PFA) is that food addicts, like all beings, must eat food to live. This chapter describes the foundation for abstinent foods and food plans in the treatment of PFA. It describes the argument that PFA is so easily reignited and the consequences are so severe that a conservative approach to abstinence is warranted. Clients who are more severely addicted may need to practice greater abstinence, which means eliminating more foods more consistently. Approaches to clients who are preaddicted, or mildly addicted, may be more difficult due to resistance and the inconvenience of eliminating processed foods. The best approach involves balancing concerns about cue reactivity, relapse, and progression against the inconvenience of avoiding a range of processed foods. The chapter discusses that the difference between addictive processed foods and nonaddictive, unprocessed foods is a key factor in the loss of control over eating.
