RebYidd23:
You wrote: “If food addicts who are accustomed to eating food every day can stop for Yom Kippur, why can’t they go without food constantly?”
Aside from the sarcasm in this statement, you do allude to some points that deserve to be articulated. Food is a necessity. Starvation is eventually fatal. There is absolutely no need for smoking. The human body never, ever needs tobacco, and can survive quite long without introducing this life shortening element.
Food addicts are NOT addicted to food. They are dependent, however, on eating patterns that are unhealthy and carry various risks. Anorexia and bulimia are two commonly recognized eating disorders, the former abstains from eating while the latter indulges in bingeing. Overeating may be an eating disorder, but it might not be more than a bad habit that can be unlearned. Eating has the goal of providing nutrition, and Hashem gave us the experience of hunger to drive us to eat. If we eat because we are nervous or upset, we have taken eating outside of the G-d given purpose. We are supposed to enjoy food. Indulging without proper limits is problematic. The various eating patterns that have negative consequences comprise the “food addiction” label we use, which is an inaccurate label. I am glad you brought up your comment to help clarify this.