Food Addiction? THIS Could Be the Cause
Let’s face it – we’re a nation of food addicts.
And let me tell you something – that’s exactly what the food companies designed us to be.
They pack their ultra-processed junk foods with addictive sugars and salts designed to get us hooked and coming back for more.
But if you’re struggling to get your eating under control – if you just can’t seem to stay away from unhealthy foods, no matter how much your doctor warns you – there may be another factor at play.
Nobody ever talks about it – and I can practically guarantee you’ve never been warned.
But this simple problem may be driving your food addiction.
And here’s the good news – it’s easy to fix.
Russian researchers recently followed a group of Arctic residents across multiple seasons.
Remember, these are folks who go months without sun exposure – and then months when the sun never sets.
It’s a recipe for disruptions to their circadian rhythms – our bodes’ natural sleep/wake cycle.
And, sure enough, the residents who got the worst sleep and the least sun exposure were more likely to be addicted to food.
That just makes sense, right?
When your circadian rhythm is disrupted, you’re not getting the sleep you need – and you’re left dragging all day.
So you get in the habit of reaching for sugar and other junk food for a quick energy boost.
Now, again, this study was done under pretty extreme Arctic conditions. But I can’t tell you the number of American patients I’ve seen over the years who had serious circadian problems.
And this wasn’t the first study to link circadian disruptions to issues like overeating and weight gain.
Luckily, it’s easy to get your circadian rhythm working properly again. Here are three simple steps you can follow:
- Get sunlight exposure in your eyes first thing every morning. No glasses or contact lenses. You don’t need to stare directly into the sun. Keep it in your peripheral vision.
- Keep a consistent bedtime every night, even on weekends.
- Keep your skin and eyes from being exposed to artificial blue light (like from TVs, cell phones, and computers) at night. Go screen-free 60-90 minutes before bedtime.
Consistency is key. Give this a few weeks to work, and you should be feeling more rested and energized – and hopefully you’ll see those food cravings quiet, too.
Source:
Borisenkov, M., Gubin, D., Markov, A., Shigabaeva, A., Mezhakova, M., & Voronin, K. (2026). Circadian Factors of Food Addiction in Arctic Residents: A Pilot Study. Biological Rhythm Research, 57(1), 30–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/09291016.2025.2530501
View Sources
Borisenkov, M., Gubin, D., Markov, A., Shigabaeva, A., Mezhakova, M., & Voronin, K. (2026). Circadian Factors of Food Addiction in Arctic Residents: A Pilot Study. Biological Rhythm Research, 57(1), 30–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/09291016.2025.2530501
