Food Addictions and Overweight

Each new year prompts millions of people to go on diets and sign up for gym memberships to lose weight and get back into shape. Within a month or two, most people resume their former eating and sedentary habits, leading to an annual weight gain.

Why are the vast majority of Americans now overweight or obese? There are many reasons, including the lipogenic effects of high-fructose corn syrup, trans fats, and simply eating too many empty calories, most of which are cheap mass-produced carbohydrates and fats.

A commentary in the Canadian Medical Association Journal focused on what I have long believed: that unrecognized food addictions are a major factor in overweight and obesity. The concept of food addictions, the authors wrote, is controversial – but there are many similarities to drug and alcohol addictions. Powerful cravings and withdrawals symptoms are signs of food addictions. And interestingly enough, anti-opioid drugs seem to reduce food cravings.

There are many factors behind food addictions. Some foods, such as wheat and dairy, contain trace amounts of natural opioids. Sweet foods stimulate the brain’s production of its own opioids. Some foods lead to increased dopamine levels – one of the brain’s pleasure neurotransmitters.

Breaking food addictions is like dealing with any other addiction: It’s going to be rough for a little while. But once an addiction is broken, most people gain a renewed sense of well being. During this process, it certainly helps to be mindful of what you put into your mouth – and to stop rationalizing that a little bit of this and a little bit of that won’t hurt. Just as a little bit of tobacco, alcohol, or cocaine will sabotage some people, little bits of problematic foods will reestablish food addictions.