Out of all the kinds of addictions, food addiction is the type that is exposed to people at the earliest ages. This is mostly because baby food has evolved over the years into containing higher amounts of sugar and food starch (Sheppard 24). This shapes people's eating habits at very early ages into craving foods that are high in carbohydrates, which eventually can lead them to an addiction with these products. The British Nutrition Foundation published an article written by A. Drewnowski and F. Bellisle titled “Is Sweetness Addictive?” The authors of the article explain how appetizing foods give a mental feeling of fullness, and also stimulate the same neural systems that are stimulated from drug addictions (Drewnowski 52-53). Obesity is a physical symptom of food addiction, which is the main factor for the strong correlation of topics between the two. Many researchers view the state of obesity as food addiction (Drewnowski 53). Genetics is another factor for those with an addiction to food (Katherine 44). Serotonin and endorphins are the chemicals that are released during pleasuring activities. The chemicals together bring a sense of relief, peacefulness, and pleasure. Food addicts have imbalances of these chemicals in their body due to the extreme highs and lows they experience on a daily basis. Parents with serotonin and endorphin chemical imbalances are able to pass this chemical imbalance onto their child through pregnancy (Katherine 44). This imbalance is unique to the one of a food addict, so the same results will be achieved when eating foods that are especially high in carbohydrates. Unconsciously the person would be born into the addiction. |
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Another strong indicator of how food addiction is caused is environmental factors. People who were associated with rigidly organized groups such as the military or strict religious sects, have higher prevalence rates of food addiction. This is thought to be an easy and acceptable way for happiness, when other methods to achieve happiness are not permitted or acceptable. What many people don’t understand is that food addiction is an eating disorder. There are many rehabilitation centers and therapists who specialize in helping those who struggle with eating habits. Ron Lester, an actor from Varsity Blues, was an addict of food. Lester eventually seeked help for his addiction after a humiliating experience. He learned healthier eating habits, and also broke his addiction to food. In regards to his addiction Lester said, “Food was my drug” (Tan). Lester underwent gastric bypass surgery to assist with breaking his addiction to food. In addition to that surgery, he also had 17 other procedures performed to remove extra skin during the weight loss process. |
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This flow diagram gives a
physical representation of how childhood obesity leads to adulthood
obesity.
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