The Exaggeration of Food Addiction: Most Weight-Controllers are Athletes, not Addicts
Journal Title: Journal of Obesity and Bariatrics - Year 2015, Vol 2, Issue 1
Abstract
Food addiction has become a popular notion in the media and the scientific community, with many proposing that an addiction to food causes obesity. Although food addictions may affect some people, this notion may also prove more harmful than helpful. This review explores the concept and implications of food addiction. It first compares food addiction to the diagnostic criteria for substance abuse. It then discusses the empirical evidence of the prevalence of food addiction and binge eating, contrasted with the prevalence of obesity, highlighting important discrepancies. Finally, it summarizes research and expert opinions on food addiction, as well as the potential harm caused by encouraging researchers, healthcare workers, and obese people to view food addiction as a primary cause of obesity. Ultimately, this review concludes that the concept of food addiction does not fit the data or serve the interests of obese people nearly as well as an alternative perspective: viewing weight controllers as athletes, not food addicts.
Authors and Affiliations
Ross Krawczyk
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP205451
- DOI 10.13188/2377-9284.1000009
- Views 134
- Downloads 0
Bariatric Surgery for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity: Early effects on Glycemic Control, Inflammatory and Carotid Arteries Wall Thickness Status
Background: Cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are the leading reasons for premature morbidity and mortality in patients with extreme obesity. Currently, there is limited success in changing this...
Post-Gastric Bypass Vitamin Therapy: How Compliant are Your Patients and who is Doing the Monitoring?
Background: Following gastric bypass surgery, micronutrient deficiencies are a well-documented complication. Emerging evidence suggest that the replacement of these micronutrients represent an integral part of postoperat...
Assessing Micronutrient Adherence after Bariatric Surgery: An Exploratory Study
Background: Micronutrient supplementation is a lifelong requirement following bariatric procedures in order to minimize longterm complications. However, little is known about patient adherence to postoperative micronutri...
Why do Patients who Underwent Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Surgery, Decide to Remove their Band, a Retrospective Cohort Study
Background: Obesity is becoming more and more prevalent in western society. It is estimated that obesity will become a serious burden to society in the next century. Surgery has been shown to be the most effective method...
Signs of Depression Following Laparoscopic Gastric Banding
Background: Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic gastric banding (LGB) related to depression and predictors of changes in depression are still unclear. Our goal was to investigate signs of depression after LGB. Methods: T...