In response to the growing numbers of people who are eating to excess as well as drinking to excess, a Dublin unit with a history of treating alcoholics has also begun treating people with eating disorders.
The Rutland Centre took the initiative after noticing over the last six or seven years that a number of people, particularly women , who came to the centre with an alcohol problem also had "food issues".
Stephen Rowen, the centre's clinical director, said some clients were found during treatment for their alcohol problem to also suffer from bulimia or compulsive overeating.
"We work with people who sometimes treat food like alcoholics treat alcohol. It would be quite common for a minority of our clients to eat as much food in a couple of hours as a normal person would eat in a couple of days.
"What happens when people develop that way is they become obese or purge the excess food through bulimia."
The centre decided to look at developing an eating disorders treatment programme based on an addiction treatment model.
"We are now in a position to admit clients who really have food as their primary addiction, and although many are cross-addicted to alcohol not all are," said Mr Rowen.
Some people were addicted to certain "trigger foods", and responded very well to an addiction treatment model.
The therapy is provided through a six-week residential treatment programme.
"Many people with eating disorders are addicted to such foods as refined white flour and white sugar, whilst others are very addicted to certain patterns and rituals around food.
"We work with them to develop a healthy relationship with food and eating, plus we help them deal with certain addictive behaviours and feelings such as loneliness, stress, hurt, frustration and shame.
"Most of the people completing the residential programme are quite stable in terms of their relationship with food despite ongoing struggles."
He believes the treatment model being offered by the Rutland Centre in the treatment of food addiction is unique.
The centre's eating disorders programme will be launched on Monday by Minister of State Seán Power as part of Addiction Awareness Week.