tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post8228234543925181734..comments2023-06-05T11:51:38.383-04:00Comments on Evolutionary Psychiatry: The Dark Side of Food AddictionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04429177284200775781noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-10951490167066921252015-03-26T01:16:36.352-04:002015-03-26T01:16:36.352-04:00This is one of the most important blogs that I hav...This is one of the most important blogs that I have seen, keep it up!Sheamushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05158555199153000678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-21381794928316675612013-08-17T13:06:43.282-04:002013-08-17T13:06:43.282-04:00This post reminded me of the part of Gary Taube...This post reminded me of the part of Gary Taube's book (Good Calories Bad Calories) that goes over the Minnesota Starvation Study. The participants obsessed about foods, cutting out recipes, cut out and saved recipes, always talked about what they're gonna eat after the study, and many of them went on to have careers in the culinary arts. When I went was on a portion control diet with a cheat day ("Body for Life" if you want to look it up) I had the exact same emotions towards food as described in the book. Now on a ketogenic diet I don't care about food nearly as much.<br /><br />To make a long story longer I personally believe food addictions are more of a hormonal imbalance then a psychiatric disorder. I wonder if other types of addiction (drugs, sex, video games, shopping, whatever) have more of a connection to hormonal imbalance than we think.Jon-Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06860927356921501257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-90572984366581458842013-04-21T12:28:17.593-04:002013-04-21T12:28:17.593-04:00Finn, your comment reveals that you just don't...Finn, your comment reveals that you just don't get it. People can "want" a healthy life and still not do what you do (if, indeed, you're one of the people you describe who eat healthy and eat correct quantity). Some want, and do. Others want, just as sincerely, but consistently stumble, the way a drinker who sees the considerable downsides of continuing to drink, decides to change, but "cant." <br /><br />The different is a biochemical sensitivity to substances that, once put into the body, creates cravings that overwhelm other "wants." The phenomenon is not new or complicated. <br /><br />What you and others have to understand is that a new set of substances have to be adding to the understanding of addicting substances — not just alcohol or cocaine or heroin, but refined food-like products, especially those crafted into complicated layerings of sugar, salt and fat.<br /><br />Michael Pragerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03645854247124417261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-33661978279266070902013-03-25T16:32:34.189-04:002013-03-25T16:32:34.189-04:00I agree wholeheartedly with Fred, it's one thi...I agree wholeheartedly with Fred, it's one thing to know what I'm supposed to be avoiding, it's a whole other thing when it's there at work, at home, in between work and home. It's everywhere. It's like having a crack dealer on every corner (and at home) when I'm a crack addict trying to give it up!Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902226998100202225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-20349915868854912342013-03-12T01:37:05.730-04:002013-03-12T01:37:05.730-04:00LOL. "Dreaming about chocolates" sounds ...LOL. "Dreaming about chocolates" sounds quite funny to me. Anyways, I agree with you on the most part. Addiction should not be there for anything. If you want to have a healthy life, eat healthy and eat correct quantity.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Finn Felton<br /><a href="http://cluwak.com/" rel="nofollow">Kopi Luwak</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17453530325514643560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-90515607652055595672013-03-01T07:13:09.883-05:002013-03-01T07:13:09.883-05:00It's probably not terribly surprising that bin...It's probably not terribly surprising that binge-eaters don't take to intuitive/mindfulness eating. After all, it's not like it's the savouring of the actual flavour-profile of a plasticky chocolate thing per se that appeals, it's the pleasant sensations of having eaten 100 of them. That's (one reason) why a plate of completely plain pasta or other starch can be so rewarding- because it gives you a rush of sugar and other pleasant associated sensations- even though it doesn't taste of anything.<br /><br />There's a distinction that might be worth making explicit in the case of people who become miserable when tasty foods are withdrawn. Aside from the people who are literally addicted and feel bad precisely because the food has been withdrawn, there's probably an overlapping group who feel miserable antecedently and use tasty food to ameliorate that misery.David Mosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08508780038542342811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-42639145291913133052013-02-28T08:10:27.683-05:002013-02-28T08:10:27.683-05:00Broken metabolism is a very loosely defined concep...Broken metabolism is a very loosely defined concept as well as a food reward. For that reason I cringe when I read both words.<br />I am one of thous who benefits from the serious carbohydrates limitation in my diet. It reduced my appetite a lot and dulled the sense of a hunger, as a result all foods got less "rewarding" for me, plus stabilized my moods. Sometimes I even miss how wonderful food used to taste. Galina L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09156132815504279615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-84915954635446205392013-02-27T23:47:12.204-05:002013-02-27T23:47:12.204-05:00Could obesity be considered one phenotype of a bro...Could obesity be considered one phenotype of a broken metabolism? Maybe the reward mechanisms are hyper sensitive in starvation (or perceived starvation based on hormonal profile)? And, the various eating disorders are just expressions of the deranged hormonal profile? Getting some <a href="http://samsnyder.com/2012/01/05/medical-tests-recommended-by-dr-ron-rosedale/" rel="nofollow">metabolic markers</a> from people suffering from eating disorders may be good info.js290https://www.blogger.com/profile/08157385596237909630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-91495654041572312972013-02-27T20:55:03.700-05:002013-02-27T20:55:03.700-05:00"In my experience there are two sorts of peop..."In my experience there are two sorts of people. Those who can’t bear to be cut off from any particular foods and would rather count calories, and these folks love their fit bits and food scales and weight watchers apps. Then there are those who couldn’t be bothered, who find calorie counting a horrible nuisance, and prefer to avoid certain types of foods." <br /><br />This is a thoughtful and helpful observation Emily.Puddleghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00953398103675945541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-50147234700100802522013-02-27T09:15:30.612-05:002013-02-27T09:15:30.612-05:00Sort of have to wonder how likely Koob's type ...Sort of have to wonder how likely Koob's type 1 (environmental cue) is to become type 2 (which is, basically, internalized environmental cue) if the type 1 resorts to environmental abstinence. Are these really two types, or two manifestations of the same basic mechanism? And there's the problem that if real starvation, an actual, undisputed (outside the breathtarians) need for nourishment, will increase sensitivity to both types of cues, then you have to wonder if an overweight person, for one reason or another, has a genuine need for nourishment that results in this same susceptibility to these types of cues. <br /><br />One problem with asceticism--it leaves you more vulnerable to environmental cues. Suddenly the mere glimpse of a bare ankle becomes provocative. In my low-fat dieting days, I would lose weight all week, then on the weekend gain it all back. Most of us don't have the option of living in a monastery. I've been low-carb for about a decade. That brought my base weight down about twenty pounds, from barely obese to barely overweight (by bmi). It stays there without trying, but if I diet down I get pretty much the same thing, I'll end up "ruining" my diet. What's stopped is the ratcheting up of my weight with successive dieting. <br /><br />I did manage to lose weight on low fat, while eating all that low-fat sugary crap. Did it make full-fat pizza and ice cream more alluring on the week-end? <br /><br />I did a five day fast while low carbing--I became a binge eater for a few weeks. Not even vaguely pathological, it went away when my body got back up to where it wants to be. <br /><br /><br />donnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02107555662488785352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-25750333157929558782013-02-26T20:15:26.571-05:002013-02-26T20:15:26.571-05:00Yes, reward mechanisms will always be involved, ju...Yes, reward mechanisms will always be involved, just some will be more vulnerable to the extremes. Adults can take responsibility for their own mouths and pantries, but the amount of garbage everywhere (from the school to birthdays to play dates) ready to be shoved down kids' gullets is incredible. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04429177284200775781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-32489074293833423902013-02-26T19:54:25.869-05:002013-02-26T19:54:25.869-05:00Nice post Emily.
I think one place where people...Nice post Emily. <br /><br />I think one place where people (not you) sometimes get confused is they think that if obesity is not an addiction to food, that means reward mechanisms are not involved. I think binge eating and other forms of food addiction are the ultimate expression of food reward mechanisms gone out of control, but the reward system doesn't have to be behaving pathologically to drive food intake in both obese and lean people. That's the whole point of the system-- driving the intake of 'preferred' foods is what it's supposed to do.<br /><br />I think controlling the environment and avoiding reward cues is a key factor. Some people can be around tempting food all the time, eat it moderately, and have a constructive relationship with it, but most can't. But this problem is easy to deal with for me: I just don't keep those types of foods around. Very little willpower is required to eat well at that point.Stephan Guyenethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218114625524777250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-39084045892569154032013-02-26T19:42:53.290-05:002013-02-26T19:42:53.290-05:00For those of us who have struggled with these prob...For those of us who have struggled with these problems all are lives, you have missed the big issue. Food is always in our faces, being pushed on us by family, friends, and the like who are unwilling to accept that food is addictive and a problem. It is an environment problem in addition to chemical addiction problem. The solution is a limited paleo/primal/19 centre diet, and metered meals, and a no available food between meals environment. Not an easy life. FredThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08382242668090490676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-4966132141354351822013-02-26T18:11:33.519-05:002013-02-26T18:11:33.519-05:00Yes considering the breadth and complexity of the ...Yes considering the breadth and complexity of the problem, imaging data in humans is very limited.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04429177284200775781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045634714760830992.post-73729582213069408622013-02-26T17:31:12.397-05:002013-02-26T17:31:12.397-05:00Cravings are interesting and Koob has a good conce...Cravings are interesting and Koob has a good conceptualization of two basic types and the neurocircuitry involved. Type I is paired with a previous environmental cue (I see the Heath Bar - I must have it). Type II is more associated with protracted abstinence and in humans would be associated with dreaming, fantasizing about it, and in some cases evoking physical responses like salivation. Prefrontal (ant. cingulate, prelimbic, orbitofrontal) and basolateral amygdala are thought to be involved. <br /><br />In my clinical experience those folks with a euphorigenic experience with either food or eating disordered behavior seem to be a distinct group in that they are much more likely to have addictive behaviors. I haven't seen an imaging study that focused on that issue.George Dawson, MD, DFAPAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03474899831557543486noreply@blogger.com