Food Addiction!

13

Replies

  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Hungry for Change, which is on Netflix streaming, goes into this topic.

    My daughter watched this in school. I'm glad that I taught her critical thinking skills during her homeschooling years so she wasn't gullible enough to believe that film.

    Why was it shown in her school? This documentary went light on science. A film about the same topic which has more science to it is Forks Over Knives.

    Thanks for responding to my post.

    It was in her "health" class, in high school.

    True story: my daughter got into an argument with the teacher about butter. This was their "nutrition" unit, and the teacher was telling them that margarine is healthier than butter because it's "lower calorie" and "lower fat." My daughter stood her ground that butter is healthy. Later, the same day, her "Foods I" teacher was telling the class how they needed to be sure to use butter for the recipe they were on because margarine would not bake as nicely and butter gives it a richer flavor.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    So what do you think about self diagnosed food or sugar addicts that only seem to have issues with hyper palatable foods? Why are "sugar addicts" not binging on gallons of milk until they are sick for the lactose, why are they told to eat fruit which are full of sugars? Both food and sugar are pretty broad in terms of what they encompass, yet the addicts only focus in a very small subset of food or sugar containing products, why?

    As I suggested in the "singling out sugar" thread, gambling was reclassified as an addiction in DSM V because it "activates the reward system in much the same way that a drug does". I would argue that "hyper palatable foods" can do this for certain people, in certain conditions. It should not be a surprise that blueberries are not going to trigger that reward system in the same way that chocolate cake does.


    "Activating the reward system" is *not* the medical definition of addiction. By the brand new DSM definition, we are all "addicted" to living life. Dumb definition is dumb.


    ETA: These are the same idiots that try to prescribe anti-psychotics to people with ADHD, and stimulants to people with Bi-polar.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    This will be debated for some time. It's interesting that although the original post mentioned the controversy, and that there are experts in the field supporting BOTH sides of the argument, the OP and others are focusing only on those comments that are against the idea.

    Part of the problem/controversy is that many clinicians have differing opinions of what 'addiction' is. Addictive behavior, for example, doesn't have withdrawal symptoms like nicotine does. However, it's certainly physiological when we look at the brains response to the behavior.

    Though there are those who argue both sides, research is showing the concept of "food addiction" as a behavioral addiction is certainly supported. Here's some recent articles that review the information we have, and provide some interesting comments for further discussion:

    So what do you think about self diagnosed food or sugar addicts that only seem to have issues with hyper palatable foods? Why are "sugar addicts" not binging on gallons of milk until they are sick for the lactose, why are they told to eat fruit which are full of sugars? Both food and sugar are pretty broad in terms of what they encompass, yet the addicts only focus in a very small subset of food or sugar containing products, why?

    If someone has a true sugar addiction they will binge on anything that contains sugar...............I know. I live with a sugar addict that is not self diagnosed.

    The mere eating of carrots sends my husband into a downward spiral toward eating anything that contains sugar in it. This included eating spoonfuls of sugar straight from the sugar container.

    He has had to cut out breads (especially store bought ones containing sugar), cookies, cakes, ice cream, fruit, carrots, onions, beets, potatoes, etc, etc, etc..............the list goes on and on.

    The Doctor has told us that he can try to add in a small amount of carrots, beets and berries in about a year.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    This will be debated for some time. It's interesting that although the original post mentioned the controversy, and that there are experts in the field supporting BOTH sides of the argument, the OP and others are focusing only on those comments that are against the idea.

    Part of the problem/controversy is that many clinicians have differing opinions of what 'addiction' is. Addictive behavior, for example, doesn't have withdrawal symptoms like nicotine does. However, it's certainly physiological when we look at the brains response to the behavior.

    Though there are those who argue both sides, research is showing the concept of "food addiction" as a behavioral addiction is certainly supported. Here's some recent articles that review the information we have, and provide some interesting comments for further discussion:

    So what do you think about self diagnosed food or sugar addicts that only seem to have issues with hyper palatable foods? Why are "sugar addicts" not binging on gallons of milk until they are sick for the lactose, why are they told to eat fruit which are full of sugars? Both food and sugar are pretty broad in terms of what they encompass, yet the addicts only focus in a very small subset of food or sugar containing products, why?

    If someone has a true sugar addiction they will binge on anything that contains sugar...............I know. I live with a sugar addict that is not self diagnosed.

    The mere eating of carrots sends my husband into a downward spiral toward eating anything that contains sugar in it. This included eating spoonfuls of sugar straight from the sugar container.

    He has had to cut out breads (especially store bought ones containing sugar), cookies, cakes, ice cream, fruit, carrots, onions, beets, potatoes, etc, etc, etc..............the list goes on and on.

    The Doctor has told us that he can try to add in a small amount of carrots, beets and berries in about a year.

    So are you saying that the vast majority of so called sugar addicts are in fact lying about their addiction? Since many many of them are eating fruits and veggies in moderation just fine.

    I do believe you said your husband eats sucrose containing eggs just fine though?
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    This will be debated for some time. It's interesting that although the original post mentioned the controversy, and that there are experts in the field supporting BOTH sides of the argument, the OP and others are focusing only on those comments that are against the idea.

    Part of the problem/controversy is that many clinicians have differing opinions of what 'addiction' is. Addictive behavior, for example, doesn't have withdrawal symptoms like nicotine does. However, it's certainly physiological when we look at the brains response to the behavior.

    Though there are those who argue both sides, research is showing the concept of "food addiction" as a behavioral addiction is certainly supported. Here's some recent articles that review the information we have, and provide some interesting comments for further discussion:

    So what do you think about self diagnosed food or sugar addicts that only seem to have issues with hyper palatable foods? Why are "sugar addicts" not binging on gallons of milk until they are sick for the lactose, why are they told to eat fruit which are full of sugars? Both food and sugar are pretty broad in terms of what they encompass, yet the addicts only focus in a very small subset of food or sugar containing products, why?

    If someone has a true sugar addiction they will binge on anything that contains sugar...............I know. I live with a sugar addict that is not self diagnosed.

    The mere eating of carrots sends my husband into a downward spiral toward eating anything that contains sugar in it. This included eating spoonfuls of sugar straight from the sugar container.

    He has had to cut out breads (especially store bought ones containing sugar), cookies, cakes, ice cream, fruit, carrots, onions, beets, potatoes, etc, etc, etc..............the list goes on and on.

    The Doctor has told us that he can try to add in a small amount of carrots, beets and berries in about a year.

    So are you saying that the vast majority of so called sugar addicts are in fact lying about their addiction? Since many many of them are eating fruits and veggies in moderation just fine.

    I do believe you said your husband eats sucrose containing eggs just fine though?

    I never specifically stated my husband eats anything, but stated what he stays away from. And eggs are on his list of acceptable foods that are fructose and sucrose free.

    I believe in food addiction in *some* people, especially after witnessing my husbands issues surrounding certain foods. Most people are overeating or binge eating on those foods for other reasons than addiction.........such as emotional eating, boredom, depression, etc.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    So what do you think about self diagnosed food or sugar addicts that only seem to have issues with hyper palatable foods?
    First, I don't believe in "self diagnosed" addicts of any kind. Period. I believe it takes a clinician specialist (in this case preferably a psychiatrist or psychologist) to make this diagnosis, period.
    Why are "sugar addicts" not binging on gallons of milk until they are sick for the lactose, why are they told to eat fruit which are full of sugars?
    Because there is no evidence that "sugar addiction" truly exists, and we both know that. It's not an addiction to one particular type of molecule, it's an addiction to certain palatable foods that activate reward/pleasure centers in the brain. Even if the person truly were addicted to sugar (which I would doubt, but it is possible that is an individuals particular trigger food), since we know drinking gallons of milk makes people nauseous and vomit, it's highly unlikely it would activate those reward/pleasure centers.

    Again, it's not an addiction that has withdrawal symptoms, but according to all established diagnostic criteria, much like gambling or other behavioural addictions, this *IS* an addiction - at least in SOME people.
    Both food and sugar are pretty broad in terms of what they encompass, yet the addicts only focus in a very small subset of food or sugar containing products, why?
    Most of the evidence I've reviewed suggests it's primarily foods that combine refined carbs/sugars and fats, not just one macronutrient alone. I wish I knew why. Hopefully more research will someday give us better insight into the condition.
  • maillemaker
    maillemaker Posts: 1,253 Member
    So what do you think about self diagnosed food or sugar addicts that only seem to have issues with hyper palatable foods? Why are "sugar addicts" not binging on gallons of milk until they are sick for the lactose, why are they told to eat fruit which are full of sugars? Both food and sugar are pretty broad in terms of what they encompass, yet the addicts only focus in a very small subset of food or sugar containing products, why?

    Because the hyper palatable foods are the ones that trigger the reward center. Eating a sugar-frosted dog turd is not likely to trigger a reward center.

    It's all about pleasure. Just like gambling, sex, stealing, whatever.
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    In the late 80's I started to notice the rise in commercials for new medicines. Little by little they grew more and more frequent. That was the beginning.

    Now we live in an age where everyone is "special" and has a new and exciting "illness" or "condition." What I'm trying to say that although the general pop has always been self-centered, the self-centeredness has risen to hysterical levels where if one doesn't have some kind of "addiction" or "syndrome" or "disorder" one is not "normal."

    We seem to be a society of people who becasue they have no idea how to make a positive change in the world, thier only contribution to society is being "ill." I don't mean people who are genuinely sick either. We are a nation of self-diagnosers and medi-hacks.

    Look, being an addict sucks. I don't drink alcohol (which I didn't have a problem with) because I don't want to wake of the drug gorilla that wants me dead. I like a nice lager and I miss it; I miss going to wine tastings with my sister. But unlike my recovery brothers and sisters, I don't like to wear recovery T-shirts and flaunt my addict flag to the world because I don't desire any attention placed on a "disease/disorder/choice" that made me miserable for years.

    I don't know what my point is but I just wanted to share that.

    Thanks for letting me share.
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    I'm addicted to food. In fact, I'm so addicted that I'm positive my withdrawal symptoms would be so severe as to cause my death if I tried to quit cold turkey.

    I'm so tired of this bullsh|t, snark-*kitten* response.

    Let me know when a gambling or pornography addict has withdrawal symptoms that cause death, eh?

    As far as I've heard, the only withdrawal that can cause death is severe alcohol withdrawal cuz you can go into seizures. The other ones are just annoying, painful but not lethal. Oh and I heard xanax withrawal is hellacious.
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    I just wish the English language had a word for addiction with milder connotations.

    As in: I won't rob a bank for this cookie, but I'll buy it instead of saving a dollar toward next year's vacation.

    And: I wouldn't risk my life for this ice cream, but I know eating too much of it may eventually cause me health problems.

    Or: If this 1000 calorie cheeseburger and 800 calorie large fries were illegal, I wouldn't risk jail sitting here eating it right now, but I am risking busting out of my favorite jeans.


    Yeah this, and while saying the word "addiction" in normal conversation wouldn't be given a second thought on the street, here on MFP where addictions are real, people really should think about what they say before saying it.

    I wouldn't think twice about telling someone that I am addicted to my TV show, but I would never say I'm addicted to drinking my wine while watching it. Context is everything.

    Yup. It's like people saying "Oh, I'm so ADD" instead of just saying "I'm a scatterbrain."
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    Hungry for Change, which is on Netflix streaming, goes into this topic.

    My daughter watched this in school. I'm glad that I taught her critical thinking skills during her homeschooling years so she wasn't gullible enough to believe that film.
    This is awesome!

    Should I watch the film for a laugh?
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    This will be debated for some time. It's interesting that although the original post mentioned the controversy, and that there are experts in the field supporting BOTH sides of the argument, the OP and others are focusing only on those comments that are against the idea.

    Part of the problem/controversy is that many clinicians have differing opinions of what 'addiction' is. Addictive behavior, for example, doesn't have withdrawal symptoms like nicotine does. However, it's certainly physiological when we look at the brains response to the behavior.

    Though there are those who argue both sides, research is showing the concept of "food addiction" as a behavioral addiction is certainly supported. Here's some recent articles that review the information we have, and provide some interesting comments for further discussion:

    So what do you think about self diagnosed food or sugar addicts that only seem to have issues with hyper palatable foods? Why are "sugar addicts" not binging on gallons of milk until they are sick for the lactose, why are they told to eat fruit which are full of sugars? Both food and sugar are pretty broad in terms of what they encompass, yet the addicts only focus in a very small subset of food or sugar containing products, why?


    YEAHHHHH, I'd like to know. Why?
  • maillemaker
    maillemaker Posts: 1,253 Member
    Interesting article today:

    http://sciencenordic.com/fitness-addicts-get-withdrawal-symptoms-just-alcoholics
    YEAHHHHH, I'd like to know. Why?

    At least two people answered. It's all about stimulating the reward center. A sugar-frosted dog turd is not likely to stimulate the reward center.
  • snikkins
    snikkins Posts: 1,282 Member
    Interesting article today:

    http://sciencenordic.com/fitness-addicts-get-withdrawal-symptoms-just-alcoholics
    YEAHHHHH, I'd like to know. Why?

    At least two people answered. It's all about stimulating the reward center. A sugar-frosted dog turd is not likely to stimulate the reward center.

    But as it has also already been mentioned, doing things that keep you alive stimulate the brain's reward center. Which is good, because we probably wouldn't have made it as a species otherwise.
  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,068 Member
    in for later
  • belgerian
    belgerian Posts: 1,059 Member
    All this would depend upon your interpretation or definition of the word addiction and or addicted

    Wikkipedia
    Addiction is the continued repetition of a behavior despite adverse consequences,[1] or a neurological impairment leading to such behaviors

    Merriam
    : a strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble)

    : an unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something

    Oxford
    1Physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance, and unable to stop taking it without incurring adverse effects

    1.1Enthusiastically devoted to a particular thing or activity:
    ‘he’s addicted to computers’

    Come to your own conclustions but I know for my self I can be come enthusiastically devoted to eating a whole package of cookies and according to Oxford that is an addiction. At the same time I would not care about the adverse effects and I would have a great interest to eat another package.
  • maillemaker
    maillemaker Posts: 1,253 Member
    Less effort into convincing others sugar addiction is real, more effort into getting back to your goals you abandoned

    Wow, what a non-response.
  • levitateme
    levitateme Posts: 999 Member
    People with ED think they are addicted to food, because it feels like that sometimes.

    Really, they have a compulsion to overeat or binge eat (2 different things). A compulsion can be seen by the sufferer as an uncontrollable urge that they are powerless to avoid... but in actuality, it can be overcome with work, time and practice. I'm proof of it.

    Either way though, sometimes it's not a question of willpower. A mental disorder is not applicable to "hey fatty, just eat one and stop, GOD, I can do it, why can't you?" I see this thrown around a lot here.

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