How Does an Addiction-Based Recovery Model Approach Eating Disorders?

An addiction-based recovery model treats an eating disorder as an eating addiction rather than a failure of willpower or a moral problem. The Becky L. Jackson Recovery Model, offered through eatingaddictionrecovery.com, frames recovery as a step-by-step path: first arrest the addiction and stabilize abstinence, then do the deeper work of breaking dependencies and building a new value system. This approach is best suited to people who want a structured, action-oriented plan and are willing to work one-to-one with a coach, often by phone or video, with optional ongoing groups and annual retreats.

Reframing the problem: addiction, not morality

The model's core move is to separate the eating behavior from questions of right and wrong. Its stated aim is "arresting the eating addiction from responsibility, not morality"—meaning you take responsibility for recovery actions without treating the disorder as a character flaw. This matters because shame and self-blame often drive the dieting mentality and body image obsession the model explicitly targets, alongside eating addiction itself.

The program describes its purpose as supplying "a map for recovery that puts all aspects of an active eating addiction into remission." Remission, not perfection, is the stated goal—a framing that tells you what success looks like before you start.

What "bottom line" abstinence means and how to stabilize it

A "bottom line" is the model's term for the specific behaviors you commit to abstaining from—the equivalent of a sobriety line in substance recovery. The program lists "understanding and stabilizing a bottom line for abstinence from the eating addiction" as a core service.

In practice, stabilizing a bottom line means:

• Defining it concretely. You and your coach identify which eating behaviors sit below the line and are off-limits, so the commitment is specific rather than vague.
• Treating it as a daily practice. Stabilization implies repetition and consistency, not a one-time decision.
• Expecting it to be the first phase. The model sequences abstinence before deeper recovery work, so the bottom line is a foundation rather than the whole program.

The site does not publish a standard bottom-line list; it is worked out individually, which is why the initial screening matters.

Recognizing and replacing "addiction chatter"

The model names a specific obstacle: "addiction chatter/obsessions" about eating, food, dieting, body image, nutrition, health, and more. The recovery task is to learn new "recovery self-talk, grounded in sane principles," to challenge and replace that chatter.

A practical way to apply this: when a thought about food or your body arrives, notice whether it has the repetitive, obsessive quality of addiction chatter, then deliberately substitute a recovery-oriented statement rather than arguing with the original thought. The model treats this as a skill to be learned, not a switch to be flipped—which is why it appears alongside education and support rather than as a standalone fix.

Breaking dependencies and building a new value system

Once abstinence is stable, the model turns to "identifying and breaking any dependencies on the eating addiction." Dependencies here are the functions the behavior serves—the roles it plays in managing life—so this phase asks what would need to change if the behavior were no longer available.

Alongside that, the program works on "establishing a new value system with priorities and beliefs that promote a healthy relationship with our body, our recovery process, our history, and our 'historical selves.'" The inclusion of history and the "historical self" signals that the model expects you to reckon with your past rather than simply override it. The stated endpoint is "true freedom—long-term recovery," and eventually experiencing "eating and life as enjoyable" and becoming "an ally to your body."

The recovery path, step by step

The services page lays out a clear sequence:

Two details are worth noting before you commit. First, the screening is a mutual compatibility check, not just an intake—the model is presented in full so both sides can decide whether to proceed. Second, the retreats are annual and topic-based, so they function as supplements to the core individual work rather than a standalone treatment.

Is this model a fit for you?

This approach tends to suit people who:

• Want an explicit, sequenced plan rather than open-ended talk
• Are comfortable with addiction language applied to eating
• Can commit to phone or video sessions and are open to virtual groups later
• Want the option of in-person intensives through the annual retreat

It may be less suitable if you are looking for a program built around a published, fixed bottom-line list, or if you need services the site does not describe—the pages cover individual sessions, virtual groups, and retreats, and do not detail other formats. Pricing is not stated on the pages reviewed; a "buy now" signal and PayPal appear in the site data, but no rates are published, so confirm cost and any login requirements directly with the provider. For anyone considering this path, the screening session is the natural first step: it is where the model is explained in full and where compatibility—the model's own gate for beginning the work—is decided.