Posted on 12/01/2006 2:52:42 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
When you feel compelled repeatedly to chain smoke cigarettes or shoot up heroin because you just can't help yourself, that's called addiction. And some scientists are saying that for many overeaters.
"Food is like a drug," said Anne Kelly, neuroscientist.
Ann Kelly is a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin who has been looking into the brain processes of addiction. Not only to narcotics, but to certain kinds of food.
"I hesitate to say there is such a thing as food addiction but what we have to keep in mind is that food can affect the brain in a very similar way as do addictive drugs," said Kelly.
In her lab, she studies the brains of rats addicted to morphine and other rats whose favorite food is a high fat sugary lard.
"It's sort of like cookie dough." said Kelly.
And the brain scans of the morphine addicted rats when they think they're about to get a fix, LOOK very much like those of the rats conditioned to fatty sweets. when they're about to be FED. Aha, says lawyer John Banzhaf.
"This could be the smoking gun, we could say fat is the next tobacco. Alright how about the legal argument?" said John Banzhaf, law professor.
That's what has lawyers practically salivating. FOOD. could be their new Tobacco.
"If we can change the six major fast food companies so they are providing clear and conspicuous disclosure on their menus of fat and calories and they're providing appropriate health warnings, we will have a dramatic impact on the overall problem of obesity and it will happen immediately," said Banzhaf.
But some, including Dr. Elizabeth Whelan of the American Council for Science and Health, don't like where all this seems to be headed.
"When you say a food is addictive, what you're really saying is that the obese person is a victim and you know that's I think abandoning individual responsibility." said Dr. Elizabeth Whelan, American Council for Science and Health.
I'd rather the government stay out of it. They've gotten billions from the tobacco companies, and instead of using it to 'discourage' smoking, they spend it on other stuff.
When enough people quit smoking to make a dent in the taxes they pay on cigarettes, the government, who is addicted to tax dollars, has to find another way to get their fix. In the end, the smoking nazis (not saying you are one) will be paying taxes on something else to make up for the 'success' of their efforts to stop smoking.
Thank you, you said it. They are so into what they hate they Have yet to realize that others hate what they do ! Geez, how stupid are we?
With alcohol, a bartender is required by law to stop serving you if you are "too drunk".
I can just see the person step up to the counter at McDonalds: "Sorry ma'am. You're too fat. By law we can get you a salad or a cup of coffee. But no dressing, cream or sugar."
Anything that makes you feel better than your present state is addictive. The brain will not believe it the first time. If it is consistent after three or four times then you can call it an addiction, it all depends on the swiftness and degree of change. It could be by music, although I can`t see how due to the current music holocaust. It could be by sight, by touch, by smell, you name it. Anything that changes attitude is addictive. This is why kids are addicted to candy and toys, why liberals are addicted to evil and terror. It brings them to a place that is more fun. The thing to remember though is addiction is like sex. 90% of the fun is in the foreplay. An alcoholic can drink and drink but the happier alcoholic will be the one who goes straight for months and looks forward to that booze on a certain date. It`s all a matter of control. For example, a liberal may want to embolden Al-Qaeda for the unpteenth time, and when he does, the reward is not as great. But if the liberal waits for months without doing anything and then does it, the reward is greater. This is why liberals constantly spew, because they have no self control.
I have a greate love for food. Because it has kept me alive for so long. ;)
Why?
The 14 years come off the end of the smokers life. That's 14 years of social security and medicare that are paid for by the smoker while he/she is working, but never collected by the smoker since he/she dies early.
From a purely economic stand-point, it is in the government's best interest to PROMOTE smoking. It may be the only way to keep those two programs solvent for a few more years.
"And the brain scans of the morphine addicted rats when they think they're about to get a fix, LOOK very much like those of the rats conditioned to fatty sweets. when they're about to be FED."
I'm sure these rat brains also LOOK very much like those of trial lawyers who are about to FEAST on ill-gotten gains from another business-killing lawsuit.
IMO!
"We should idolize those super-models who don't seem to suffer from this addiction."
They traded theirs for cocaine. :)
Right after we received our orders two of the teenagers got into a quarrel and started to fight. My friend said "we had better leave. The police will arrive soon." I told him "Good, because they should be here in time to see a real fight if those teens make it over to my table and interfere with my meal."
Moral of story: Go ahead and interfere with my meal. Make My Day!
That goes for Mr. John Banzhaf and any other fool.
I understand, that was our position when we still lived in Delaware.
Upside, is that I've perfected the grilled rib eye.
So did my husband!!! In fact he's doing one as I type this :)
"When the steak begins to cook
Then I really dont care anymore
About all the doctors in this town
And everybody putting everybody down
And all of the politicians makin' crazy sounds
All the cheese doodles piled up in mounds, yeah
"Upside, is that I've perfected the grilled rib eye."
Actually, I see some of this as a return to "normal." Grilling meat is not a bad skill to have, along with baking bread, growing your own food in the garden, knowing how to sew on a button, pack your own shotgun loads, make a batch of jelly, etc.
The Socialists are going to create a total underclass of people like us...and we are going to live a sweet, sweet life off the grid while denying them their blood-lust; tax dollars. No tax on the food we grow ourselves to feed our families. No tax on keeping a goat or a milk cow (but they might want to tag them; we can resist.) No tax on me keeping laying hens for eggs. No tax on cigs we roll ourselves. (I don't smoke, but totally understand the concept.) Modest "taxes" on a hunting license, but there's plenty of roadkill out there. ;)
Think I'm nuts? Well, just think about it for a little while...
I totally agree with John Edwards. There ARE 'Two Americas.' And Thank God I'm on the underside, LOL! My worst nightmare would be waking up as one of the clueless DOLTS who need a man-servant to dress them in the morning. ;)
"The thing to remember though is addiction is like sex. 90% of the fun is in the foreplay."
Could you spread that information to EVERY male on the planet? We women of the world will make it worth your time, LOL! :)
What a bunch of baloney.
Look for a lot of fat and formerly fat politicians to get on this bandwagon. The food made 'em that way. What made Bubba have a heart attack? McDonalds! And whose fault was it? McDonalds!
What'll it be after food? SEX!
So is exercising. i.e. jogging for it releases endorphins into the body and makes one feel good.
We need to regulate jogging.
So you agree that food is addicting? Or, that at least sugar is?
Its amazing how unhealthy food is in general these days. There's so much transfat, sugar and chemical in everything.
What's truly amazing is the nonsense that some people will believe. They are exactly what the food Nazi's hope for. Trans fat makes up less than 3% of the diet of the average American. Is sugar unhealthy or is the overconsumption of sugar unhealthy? Can you name one food that isn't made up of chemicals?
You may think lawsuits are ridiculous but it seems that you're in favor of something being done. Can the government, by exerting greater control over what we're allowed to eat, stop food from being so unhealthy in general these days?
I'm so sick of people dictating to the rest of us how we should live and look. These same scientists sit and wonder why so many people have serious eating disorders (either underweight or overweight). Gee I wonder why?? (/sar)
Which, ironically, they're trying to legalize.
Or is that pot?
Welcome to the fat tax. Coming to a fast food restaurant near you.
How many lawsuits would it take for McD's to go out of business?
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