Compulsive Overeating and food Addiction
Food Addiction and the consequences attached: The compulsive overeating
The compulsive overeating, excessive craving for and consumption of specific foods are way of life in this order
Even as we look at food addiction and the consequences attached to it, it is important to appreciate that food addiction is a term that is used to describe a pathological disorder; which may include, the compulsive overeating, excessive craving for and consumption of specific foods. Similarly to binge eating disorder, this condition is characterized by an abnormally large intake of food that can be very harmful to the individual consumer and this can result in compulsive overeating. We will look into details what it entails to have this behavior of compulsive overeating as we progress into the discussion. In the meantime, the concept of food addiction has long been for a long time been a subject of doubt with the main stream medical establishment. However, with the new developments and various researches being conducted, facts are coming out and for sure it has been established that the neurological similarities between food addiction and drug dependence is real. And besides that many experts are in agreement that food addiction is a major culprit behind binge eating disorder (BED).
As it is commonly known (compulsive overeating), food addiction like BED is grounded on an obsessive-compulsive relationship to food. According to the experts at Yale University, there research findings concluded that BED shares majority of its characteristics with addictive behaviors, including inability to take full control and consistent usage irrespective of knowledge of all the negative consequences attached to this behavior. Apart from that other experts have also noted some similarities between the effects of certain foods and narcotics. Like for instance over the years doctor Dalal Akoury who is the MD, President and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center has been concentrating on the comparison of fructose corn syrup to both heroin and cocaine because all these have been processed primarily to make them more potent concentrated substances capable of generating intense pleasure. Further still and according to other studies, it has actually been established that people who consume purified carbohydrates in the form of refined flours and simple sugars become habituated to their intense stimulation”. Doctor Akoury and other addiction experts assert that other concentrated foods, such as refined foods that contain white flour, have this same effect during their calorie-dense intensity.
Food Addiction and the consequences attached: The actual Compulsive consumer
Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center alludes that just like it is with other addictive behavior, the compulsive eater will be obsessed with the object of the compulsion, like food for instance. Under these circumstances, the individual will develop a compulsive urge or craving to have a bite and will most of the time eat irrespective of whether they are hungry or not. This will often cause the victim to binge in secret, away from others for fear of being ridicule. And in the process they lose control over how much quantity of food they feed on progressively. Just for a better understanding, lest consider this illustration, under normal circumstances, a compulsive eater for example may consume a whole box of cookies when he/she intended to have just appease. Loneliness, anger, depression, insecurity, boredom and anxiety are considered the biggest triggers to this behavior. And though this behavior will be very evident, the victims will always find it more convenient to deny any act of overindulgent to eating.
Food Addiction and the consequences attached: Where obesity comes in
Compulsive overeating usually results in obesity. Nevertheless, experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are registering that under normal circumstances the compulsive eater may not necessarily identifiable by their body size because as it is, there are many women who eat compulsively and at the same time they are also compulsive dieters. Meaning that, there is a clear distinction between being overweight and being obese. And that is to say that overweight is weighing more than one should for his or her body structure, height, and sex. But in all this, it is very important to note that, there is great possibility of someone being overweight and still be in good health. Take for example the athletes weight lifters and others who do muscle-producing exercise, they are often overweight but have a very low proportion of body fat. Individuals who are obese, however, are more than 30 percent over their ideal weight and have a high body fat content.
Obesity being a health condition, it can lead to serious health complications if medical remedies are not taken in good time. Like for instance, excessive body fat is associated with diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. It is also linked to varicose veins, problems in pregnancy, digestive disorders, arthritis, and respiratory disorders. And when the compulsive eater is a female and of course many are females. They will have very low self-image, a preoccupation with body size, feels a lack of control over her environment, feels depressed, and tends to turn anger inward. And as we had mentioned earlier, overeating is a way to alleviate boredom, stifle negative emotional feelings, calm down, relax, and feel comforted.
Though most obesity is considered to result from overeating due to psychological causes, some people are thought to have a physiological basis for their problem. One theory, the set point theory, suggests that people are born with different natural set points for a particular body weight in response to weight changes, metabolic or physical reactions occur to maintain the weight at which the body is “set.” This may in turn cause the person to eat more to maintain his/her set weight. If the person has a high set point, he/she will tend to be overweight or obese.
Finally the fat cell theory posits out that adipose tissue also known as fat cells can affect body weight by increasing either in number or size. It is thought that in childhood a greater number of fat cells than normal are produced because of overfeeding. In dieting, the fat cells become smaller but are not eliminated. The person appears to be of average weight. However, when the person does not diet but eats a normal amount of food, the many fat cells enlarge, thus causing them to again and eventually become overweight. Therefore if this concerns you and you want to get professional solutions, then take that phone and schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today and your life will never be the same again.
Food Addiction and the consequences attached: The compulsive overeating
