Overeating, like drug use, rewards and alters brain patterns...NPR

[Stuart G]

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/01/131698228/overeating-like-drug-use-rewards-and-alters-brain&sc=nl&cc=es-20101205
John Hamilton.
December 1, 2010.

If you've ever wondered why it's hard to stay on a diet, consider this observation from Ralph DiLeone, a brain scientist at Yale University: "The motivation to take cocaine in the case of a drug addict is probably engaging similar circuits that the motivation to eat is in a hungry person."

That's what brain scientists have concluded after comparing studies of overeating with studies of drug addiction, DiLeone says.

They've also found that, at least in animals, sweet or fatty foods can act a lot like a drug in the brain, he says. And there's growing evidence that eating too much of these foods can cause long-term changes in the brain circuits that control eating behavior.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The proof in humans will come in a while, that this addiction like drugs, is deadly.
Unfortunately, for many, by then, they will have died from the side effects of overeating.
You know them already.

[FailureToCommunicate]

1. "... probably engaging similar circuits" Wow, that's scientific. So it's NOT our fault

it's "because of our addiction" I'm sure it has nothing to do with the multi billion dollar food industry -with the help of the US FDA- pushing crap meat, cheese, corn, soy and corn syrup "food" on us 24/7.

[siligut]

2. The food as addictive theory seems to be gaining some ground

Of course there are many different issues that factor into obesity, but it would seem that addiction may be one of them. As always, reading the comments is like adventures in stoopidland, but interesting anyway.

[Stuart G]

3. Many of us know that certain foods are addictive..like.

favorite candies and cookies..

Now I don't know about others, but for me I can't stop with one kind of chocolate chip cookie.
Yes, it is pleasure, but I can't stop. The combination of sugar, just the right amount of butter, and the best chocolate chips. well. that's it..

You can beleve what is true for you..
but for me..I know..

[siligut]

4. There is a new diet drug that incorporates Naltrexone

Naltrexone is an opiate blocker and is used in alcohol and narcotic withdrawal. Some of my inference is based on this. I know about favorite foods :D, think about comfort foods too, so many are high in fat and calories.

[shellgame26]

5. Fats affect dopamine levels in the brain

what is stupid about that?

[siligut]

6. Maybe you misinterpreted what I said

Some of the comments seem to come from narrow-minded or misinformed people. Using stoopidland was meant to be funny, a way of alleviating my frustration.

[shellgame26]

7. I stand corrected

[AnnieBW]

8. Yep

Apparently a lot of recovering alcoholics transfer their addiction to sugar, because the chemical structure is almost the same.

OA has said for years that food is an addiction. It's worse than alcoholism or drug addiction, because you don't need drugs or alcohol to live, but you do need food.

[Stuart G]

9. And further more...

We are trained by our families at an early age to enjoy desert
Early on we get food rewards for good behavior..No wonder we have addictions to it. No wonder this is such a problem, and
most people don't want to admit it because ..well, we can conotrol our food, can't we??