Chronic overeating called an addiction

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | August 15, 2004 | Joyce Howard Price

[neverdem]

The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com

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Chronic overeating called an addiction

By Joyce Howard Price
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published August 15, 2004

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Just as federal health officials defined obesity as an illness, researchers at the University of Florida say mounting evidence suggests chronic overeating may be a substance abuse disorder and should be considered an addiction.

    "What's the difference between someone who's lost control over alcohol and someone who's lost control over good food? When you look at their brains and brain responses, the differences are not very significant," said Dr. Mark Gold, chief of addiction medicine at UF's College of Medicine.

    Dr. Gold, also a professor of psychiatry at the school's McKnight Brain Institute, was co-author of three studies published in a recent issue of the Journal of Addictive Diseases that linked overeating, obesity and addiction.

    Publication of the studies came as Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced that obesity, the second most common cause of death in the country, qualifies as an illness that's covered by Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly and disabled.

    "We've taken the position that overeating is, in part, due to food becoming more refined, more palatable, more hedonic. Food might be the substance in a substance abuse disorder that we see today as obesity," Dr. Gold said.

    Sixty-four percent of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea, and it contributes to 400,000 deaths annually, the Atlanta agency reports.

    Dr. Gold was an early proponent of the "food-as-drug" model. The medical community considered the idea radical...

[neverdem]

ping

[GeronL]

Here we go. Multi-billion dollar lawsuits, businesses shut down, federal funding of diet plans and liposuction...

[GeronL]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040814/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_s_stryker_gao

Weight an issue for new armor vehicle. (STRYKER)

oh, is this not about that?? my bad...

[joesnuffy]

What's the difference between overeating and alcohol and drug use?...

Fat people dont usually rob others of their money at gun or knife point in order to buy nachos

People driving under the influence of potato chips dont often drive their cars into light poles

Very infrequently if ever do young men and women sell their bodies for twinkies....

ho hos...maybe

[joesnuffy]

The world panty waste liberals would have us live in......

[neverdem]

What's the difference between overeating and alcohol and drug use?...

Fat people dont usually rob others of their money at gun or knife point in order to buy nachos

People driving under the influence of potato chips dont often drive their cars into light poles

Very infrequently if ever do young men and women sell their bodies for twinkies....

ho hos...maybe

Joe, usually we agree on the vast majority of topics discussed on this forum, but on this article, I regret to say you've missed the point of the story. The story is about the increased understanding of addiction as far as the biochemistry, physiology, neuro-chemistry and neuro-imaging. It's not about the adverse consequences, either physical, social or legal, that occur when folks can't moderate their behavior.

I'm sure you've noticed that when most people stop smoking, they tend to gain wieght. The article didn't mention nicotine, but nicotine, alcohol and, AFAIK, all addictive, illegal drugs of abuse have been found to ultimately involve dopamine pathways within the brain.

There are other chemicals involved including endorphins, a word that describes a number of endogenous biochemicals with morphine like properties, i.e. releaving pain or providing a sensation of euphoria. They stopped using the proverbial "sugar pills" as placebos in research studies when they accidentally learned such placebos cause an increase in the release and blood levels of endorphins.

IIRC, nocitine has been shown in animal studies as more addictive than heroin or cocaine. Almost all rehab centers, whether for alcohol or illegal drugs, let their patients continue smoking. If you have any questions, I'm sure I can provide professional or medical references.

[lainde]

bttt

[MarkL]

The more that I hear about how these things (just about anything now) are addictions, the more I'm beginning to suspect that the whole concept of addictions is more a matter of choice than anything else.

Can someone become physically addicted to something, like a drug? Absolutely. However, does the addict have a choice in the matter? Well, given more information like this, I'm coming to conclude that if an addict wants to get out of the addiction, then it's simply a matter of choice for the addict.

BTW, I'm a former smoker who quit, and when I thought that I might be an alcoholic (when I was in college, I heard the saying that "if you think that you might be an alcoholic you probably are one." At the time, I was getting drunk 3 or 4 times a week), I gave up all alcohol for more than 10 years. In both cases, it was simply a matter of choice. I chose to stop smoking and drinking. Of course, I realize that to liberals, choice only refers to killing babies: When it comes to choosing other actions for yourself, then you're a victim, and have no choice.

Next up, will be my choice to lose weight. And like with smoking and drinking, I'll do it when I'm ready.

Mark

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Here we go. Multi-billion dollar lawsuits, businesses shut down, federal funding of diet plans and liposuction...

Not to mention DEA dynamic entries into homes suspected of having illegal assault food in their refrigerators, and the subsequent use of the asset forfeiture laws to steal property to be distributed among law enforcement agenceies involved the the Joint Task Force on Assault Food.

[Born Conservative]

I'm sure you've noticed that when most people stop smoking, they tend to gain wieght.

In the future, I'm convinced that research will show that smoking produces a change in neurochemistry that inhibits the urge to eat in those predisposed to overeating and also that there is an imbalance in neurochemicals in many obese people.

As for eating being an addiction, in my own personal experience, I had gastric bypass surgery 2 years ago. My urge to eat was drastically curtailed after the surgery. Prior to the surgery, I could never sense when I was "full", and would constantly have the urge to eat. It had nothing to do with "willpower". Now, I know when I'm full, and I just eat what I need. Granted, the surgery will cause me to have physical side effects if I eat too much or eat the "wrong" food, but aside from this, I don't have the constant urge to eat, and I certainly know when I'm "full".

[Lazamataz]

Fat people dont usually rob others of their money at gun or knife point in order to buy nachos

They can't get out of their chair.

People driving under the influence of potato chips dont often drive their cars into light poles

Lots of car accidents happen when people are distracted by eating.

Very infrequently if ever do young men and women sell their bodies for twinkies....

That's because nobody wants a fatty.

[Lazamataz]

Can someone become physically addicted to something, like a drug? Absolutely. However, does the addict have a choice in the matter? Well, given more information like this, I'm coming to conclude that if an addict wants to get out of the addiction, then it's simply a matter of choice for the addict.

I'm here to tell you, from personal experience, that this is simply not true.

[hershey]

I have a friend who, like one of my minidachshunds, has 'food issues'. We'll call my friend, Helen. Helen came from a poor family where they didn't eat well until they began planting three gardens and canning produce. Even so, often there wasn't enough to eat in the winter, so they went hungry. Helen was diagnosed with epilepsy by the time she was 12, something her family never dealt with properly. They thought she could simply 'stop having those fits' and was doing it on purpose, for attention. Now in her sixties, she could be a poster child for obesity problems.

My (slightly overweight), minidachshund, on diet dog food, is slimming down bit by bit. She'd get to her ideal weight faster without those cheese tidbits now and then, but hey, a few yummies can't hurt. One of my other minis refuses to eat Kayem American cheese, by the way. Sophie eats only the best, please, Land O'Lakes.

[nmh]

Allow me to clear this up.

An "addiction" to anything is possible when the individual has NO SELF CONTROL OR DISCIPLINE. It all boils down to taking responsibility for ones actions and SELF CONTROL.

[SamAdams76]

Like you, I had a bad habit that plagued me for years and one day I just gave it up. The date was April 1, 2003. That was the day that I told myself I would start eating right and put on a pedometer and walk at least 10,000 steps every day (about 5 miles).

Within six months, I had lost 100 pounds and I am now close to my normal weight, where before I was obese.

Was it easy? Absolutely not. Even today, I still crave things like chocolate frosted donuts, fried foods, thick shakes, chips, cookies, pies, etc. But since April 1, 2003, I have had none of those things. I still walk into Dunkin' Donuts every morning and order a coffee with cream and no sugar (though I do put Splenda into it) and I have to look at those racks of mouth-watering donuts behind the counter. But not once have I given in.

It's a choice. A choice between being healthy and fit and a choice between being unhealthy and fat.

I really emphasize with those who struggle with obesity. But I refuse to call it an addiction and I refuse to accept the fact that I do not have the power to conquer it.

[El Gato]

Fat people dont usually rob others of their money at gun or knife point in order to buy nachos

For the most part, neither would drug addicts if the illegality of it didn't artificially inflate the price while at the same time making it more difficult for the user to find gainful employement.

People driving under the influence of potato chips dont often drive their cars into light poles

That's an argument for the current laws against drinking and driving, not against mere possesion or use of "adult beverages" (few of which I care for at all and the rest of which I imbib extremely rarely)

There is one major difference however. You can't go "cold turkey" on food. Complete astinence is most likely easier, physcologically, than mere moderation, at least for the addicted, if that's what it is, person.

[El Gato]

That's because nobody wants a fatty.

That must be why there are all those "fat lady" porn sites? Hmm? Beware of absolute statements. I'd say "because few want a fatty", since obviously there are those, for whatever reason, do. And of course there are others who just don't care.

[Lazamataz]

That must be why there are all those "fat lady" porn sites? Hmm? Beware of absolute statements. I'd say "because few want a fatty", since obviously there are those, for whatever reason, do. And of course there are others who just don't care.

I say unequivocally: All men hate fat women.

The porn sites are just put out there to see if anyone has changed their mind yet.

But it is still true: ALL men hate fat women. Those porn sites do not have a single customer.

I'm right whether or not I'm right.

[gcruse]

I'm beginning to suspect that the whole concept of addictions is more a matter of choice than anything else.

Judge:  You are charged with rape.  How do you plead?
Defendant:  I plead insanity, your honor.
Judge:  What? Insanity is no defense for rape!
Defendant:  But Judge, I'm just crazy about that stuff!