I'd like to enter this debate. Having been a smoker for 35 years (quit cold turkey almost 10 years ago) I know something about addiction. I don't claim that an addiction to a legal substance is the same as an addiction to an illegal one. Surely the societal ramifications are different. Still, I think there are many parallels in the harm done to the abuser.
Eating disorders, whether they involve starving or stuffing, have
both psychological and medical consequences. Overeaters are subjet to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, increased risk of bowel, breast, and reproductive cancers, increased risk of diabetes, arthritic damage to joints, etc. --All of which can be life-threatening or at least dibilitating. From a psychological stand point overeaters can suffer from depression that can lead to self-harm and suicide, the feeling of being out of control and helpless to do anything about problems, anxiety and self-doubt, guilt and shame, feelings of failure, obsessive thoughts and preoccupations, compulsive behaviors, feelings of alienation and loneliness, and feelings of hopeless and helpless.
Determining the cause of the eating disorder or drug abuse is imperative to bring the individual back to a state of health. Giving up addictive drugs is difficult and can be become an ongoing battle to maintain. Eating disorders are different in that one has to develop a new relationship with food--we cannot give food up entirely--and it can still remain an ongoing battle to maintain.
Are both these struggles the same? No.
On a personal level, is one easier to deal with than the other? That would entirely depend upon the person.
Of course, that's just MHO!
Mary