Although there has yet to be a Chocoholics Anonymous, the results are in: For some of us, food addiction can be very real.

Despite no standardized clinical definition, researchers have identified a handful of behaviors commonly linked to the concept, like compulsively eating past fullness, binge eating and cravings for foods high in fat and added sugar.

Similar to other, more traditional sources of addiction like substance abuse, food consumption results in the release of feel-good hormones. Some studies also suggest food addiction begins even before consumption, with anticipation of the act, similar to traditional substance addiction.

So which nutrient is the “drug”?

Research conducted in animal models demonstrated that a diet high in fat and sugar — common ingredients in convenient, easy-to-find processed foods — triggered addiction-like behaviors. Other factors that can contribute to food addiction may include yo-yo dieting, which involve switching between different diets that center around restriction for their weight loss success.

Of course, at the end of the day, onion rings are not opioids and foods do not create the same pharmacological effect as a drug. It’s also important to note that most people with obesity do not experience food addiction symptoms. But if eating is beginning to be all you can think about, and you can’t get enough — even when you want to — try modifying the environment in which you typically eat. It’s no 12-step program, but small changes like making fruits and vegetables visible and easily accessible as well as learning to view mealtime as an opportunity for human engagement can help.