Researchers from the University of Calgary in Alberta have uncovered a unique take on food here in North America, which could help explain the obesity rates that have been plaguing our society. They believe that the vast amounts of inexpensive, high-calorie foods available to everybody are actually replacing alcohol and cigarettes as the new — wait for it — “drug of choice.”
That’s what the group told the audience at the Alberta Obesity Summit, which brings together experts from around the continent to talk about research on how to fight obesity in our society. It seems that food is more addictive than we realized, because it’s chock-full of addictive substances — and because food activates the same region of the brain as drugs do. The behavior of eating — and especially eating too much salty, fried, or sugary foods — is actually quite similar to any addictive behavior.
Stress — one of health’s greatest hidden causes of illness — plays a role, too. Stress is linked to both addiction and eating; the researchers believe it can trigger both behaviors. Stress can also trigger addictive binge eating in the exact same way it can cause a recovering substance abuser to relapse. Stress inflicted by work, family events, or money, for example, has been well proven to increase a person’s cravings for food. Yet few people pay attention to the fact that the exact relationship also exists with drugs.
If people who are aiming to lose weight start eyeing food as an addictive substance, it might change the way that they approach weight loss. For instance, recovering alcoholics would never keep bottles of vodka around and cocaine users in the same regard wouldn’t buy the drug. The temptation is too great. If we applied this to food, then people wouldn’t keep potato chips, ice cream, or processed meat around. Eliminating the temptation helps thwart an addiction. It’s just that simple.
Do you obsess over the pleasure or comfort you get from food? Do you feel sometimes as though you lack self- control when eating? Do you find yourself preoccupied with finding food you know gives you pleasure and comfort? In spite of the consequences, do you find yourself compelled to binge eat at times? Are you overcome with cravings? These are all hallmark indicators of an addiction. Treating an addiction to food in the same way an alcoholic treats their illness can be an important step on the road to weight loss.
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Tags: functional foods, obesity, quick weight loss
