The Impact of Food Environments on Midlife Australian Adults With Addictive Eating Behaviors

Research into addictive eating has gained traction over recent years, however there is still debate among experts surrounding the nature of the condition. Using reflexive thematic analysis this paper considers addictive eating through a participant focused lens, specifically focussing on the phenomena of the food environment and its impact on individuals with addictive eating. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken to explore the participants' (<i>n</i> = 10) perspectives with addictive eating. After completion of interviews, six main themes were constructed; Relating to the food environment impact was <i>Convenience of processed foods</i>, which encompassed two subthemes; <i>the Easy option,</i> and, <i>Essential for survival</i>; <i>It's what I can afford;</i> Relating to fad diets and addictive eating was <i>Consciousness; Unmaintainable and unsustainable; Cutting though the noise;</i> and <i>Being a part of the group</i>. This study highlights the need to support consumers to consider ways in which fresh foods can be made more accessible and convenience foods made more healthful, and what support can be provided to food-insecure adults living with food-insecurity.