Dr Oz: Food Addiction - Real or Fake?
Can You Be Addicted To Food? The truth is, studies indicate that the causes of your overeating may not be just your lack of willpower - you could have a Food Addiction. Other medical professionals believe that overeating is caused by emotions, which is something you can control. Dr Oz introduced dietician, Keri Gans and nutrition researcher, Neal Barnard, MD to give 2 opposing views on the subject.
It seems to be all you think about and when you try to resist, you end up giving in to your guilty pleasure. What is it?
Dr Oz Food Addiction
Dr Oz Food Addiction
It’s not alcohol or drugs you’re craving-it’s food. Could these cravings be beyond your control? Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese and this number is increasing. Salty, sweet, and fatty foods trigger pleasure receptors in your brain so you keep coming back for more. Skeptics say, don’t blame neurochemistry for your overeating. It’s your lack of willpower that keeps you going for seconds at the dinner table.
Dr Oz asked his studio audience who believed that food addiction was a driver of obesity. Fifty percent of audience members raised their hands. Dietician Keri Gans believes that food is NOT addictive. Her colleague, nutrition researcher Dr. Neal Barnard, MD, believes food is addictive and the cause for overeating.
Dr Oz: Food Addiction vs. Willpower
Keri, the author of The Small Change Diet, stated that she based her opinions or science. Studies are not conclusive, however, she worked with hundreds of people to find out what causes them to overeat. She believed it was due to emotions and learned behaviors.
Dr. Barnard disagreed. He stated that once we look inside the human brain, we see that sugar and chocolate release opiate chemicals. Opiates are released in certain foods and caused you to crave the food. Some foods also create dopamine, which is the “feel good” gene. This gene causes the desire for food, which causes overeating then causes diabetes. It’s a chain of events. Sugar and chocolate are the prime suspects.
Keri stated that it was the emotions that lead people to overeat. When people were younger, they got ice cream when they did well on a test. Food was used as a reward. These “comfort” foods were the ones that were good to them. People in these instances never learned other behaviors to help them feel good so they always returned to the old-faithful standby to feel good-food.
Dr Oz: Food Addiction Statistics
1. Do you think you may be addicted to food?
Yes- 63% No-18% Maybe-19%
2. Do you think people use the term food addict as an excuse to overeat?
Yes-48% No-52%
3. Do you think food addiction is just as bad as alcohol or drug addiction?
Yes-77% No-23%
Dr. Barnard stated that addiction was not an excuse. You recognize the problem and you then you attack it.
Keri disagreed, feeling as though the problem was recognized, but the issue was never addressed. People use the term “food addict” and then just go on eating as they have been. In her practice, she gives her clients learning tools. For instance, if at 4 pm they want that sugar, she gives them healthier alternatives like fruit. Eventually, they break out of the sugar habit.
Nina, an audience member, stated that she had debated the issue. She had never likened her eating to other substance abuse, but personally, she’s had the withdrawal and binge episodes. Her body tells her that she feels good when she eats those foods. She lives to eat, not eats to live. She drives home from work after a bad day and eats junk in the car. When she doesn’t, she has that withdrawal feeling.
Debbie, another audience member, agreed with Keri. Debbie has been a nurse for 30 years and she recognized her moods and her behaviors for eating. When she was lonely, she ate junk. It took her some time to realize eating was dictated by her moods. It was a source of comfort.
Keri stated that going on diets meant deprivations, which led to overeating. You need to learn how to eat some of these “junk foods” without going for the all or nothing mentality. Keri suggested working with a registered dietician for the food component and a therapist for the emotional component. In conjunction, you can find a balance.
Dr. Barnard stated that just because you overeat, it doesn’t mean you’re an emotional wreck. He believed that there were enough components in foods that got you hooked, regardless of your upbringing and lifestyle.
