Hello, My Name is Darcy, and I am an Addict.

I think I mentioned my appreciation for food.  Super intense flavors, sweet and savory, out-of-control portion sizes…(Oops…was that last one outloud?)  However there did come a time where I was forced to stare down the ugly truth that my intense affection was having less-than-desirable ramifications.  While pictures, the mirror and the scale can most definitely lie (more on that another time), pant sizes don’t.  It must have been shortly after college that I realized I was no longer living the adolescent dream of “eat whatever you want and seemingly suffer no consequence”.  Truth be told, while I personally never reached a state of obesity that was health-threatening, I realized very quickly that if I didn’t change my habits I would continue accelerating in that direction.  It was then that I began the notorious yo-yo dieting and exercising fads- all short lived and successful only temporarily if even at all.  I’m gonna take a wild guess that I’m not the only one who knows what a COLOSSAL let down this all is.  Ugh.  Why do we even put ourselves through the misery?

But hold up.  Before we berate ourselves for our poor eating choices, or feel frustrated and shameful about our lack of self control, let’s be very honest with ourselves and admit one thing:  food problems are addictions.  In case anyone may have missed that, allow me to reiterate:  habitual poor eating is an ADDICTION.

This revelation was for me the conclusion I ultimately had to arrive at and accept.

Hello, my name is  [insert your name here]  , and I am addicted to  [all kinds of toxic yum] .

For me it was comfort food late at night, and not only that, but too much of it to boot.  Sitting down AFTER dinner with a can of Pepsi and a huge bowl of ice cream, or one (okay, fine- two) bags of microwaved popcorn fixed up with extra butter and salt, or a nice tall glass of milk with a half a dozen (usually more, but who was counting?) Oreo cookies, and sometimes… well I won’t continue because I feel the nausea setting in just thinking about it.  I’m happy to report it’s been seven or more years since I’ve eaten like this- especially late at night- and I have no desire whatsoever to eat that way again.  For some of us, the thought of giving up certain treats or habitual snacks seems impossible, and I can tell you why you may feel that way.  You have an addiction.  It may seem startling, but it is simple truth.  If you’re wondering if this is just an opinion, allow me to reinforce it a bit further…

Just last year Biological Psychiatry published an article out of the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology at University of Cambridge, which outlined the rationale for associating obesity and eating habits with a model of addiction.  The article cites several studies which indicate the consistency of neurobiological responses to dietary substances such as fat and sugar with those of hard stimulants such as cocaine. [1]  Even more striking is a study conducted in 2007 which concluded that “intense sweetness can surpass cocaine reward, even in drug-sensitized and -addicted individuals.” [2]  In other words, sugar addiction is more powerful than cocaine!  These studies continue with a more recent one published this year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition further showing that sugar addiction is likely even eight or more times as strong. [3]

While this may seem shocking or even depressing, I personally feel there is a bright side.  If you struggle with overcoming food favorites and eating habits, stop feeling bad about yourself and just recognize it for what it is.  This stuff is addictive!  There is no shame in struggling- I have yet to meet a human being who doesn’t struggle with something.  (If you are reading this, and you legitimately think you don’t struggle, can I suggest you consider denial?  That might be yours… LOL.)

Okay, so all cheekiness aside, food struggles ARE an addiction, and they should be treated as such.  Can some people quit and make changes cold turkey, never look back, and never relapse?  Perhaps some.  But for most of us, making changes takes time and is a complicated process.  Mine took a good two or three years.  Rest assured I have more to share in that regard, but for now, let’s just say it like this:

There came a day where I resolved to stop demanding perfection of myself, and instead chose to commit to progress.  If I’ve learned anything at all, it’s that the small changes each day are what grow you over time… and if you can learn to appreciate each change you make, then somewhere down the road you’re able to turn around and realize you’re further along than you may have ever imagined…

 

1. Smith DG, Robbins TW. The Neurobiological Underpinnings of Obesity and Binge Eating: A Rationale for Adopting the Food Addiction Model. Biological Psychiatry. 2013;73(9):804-810.
2. Lenoir M, Serre F, Cantin L, Ahmed SH. Intense Sweetness Surpasses Cocaine Reward. PLoS ONE. 2007;2(8):e698.
3. Lennerz BS, Alsop DC, Holsen LM, et al. Effects of Dietary Glycemic Index on Brain Regions Related to Reward and Craving in Men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;98(3):641-647.