Junk food as addictive as drugs

[Eddie Dane]

Says this article.

I don't know what to make of it.

What are your opinions and personal experiences?

 

[Primus]

If obese people put the same effort into exercise that they did finding excuses that absolve them of any responsibility then obesity would stop being an issue within the year.

 

[r0ast_p0tat0es]

If a Big Mac had the same effect as a line of coke, then it would cost a hell of a lot more than $4.00.

 

[dtugg]

If a Big Mac had the same effect as a line of coke, then it would cost a hell of a lot more than $4.00.

Actually, $4 is about a line's worth of coke. At least where I am from (Arizona, USA).

 

[r0ast_p0tat0es]

That's pretty cheap. I dare say you could buy something to snort up your nose for four bucks here too, but I wouldn't vouch for its authenticity.

How did we end up talking about this, though?

My personal experience - for what it's worth - is that a McDonalds burger is not as addictive as cocaine. But I guess it depends on your definition of "addictive"...

People need food every single day.
McDonalds is open every single day, at the strangest of hours.
It's cheap.
It's hot.
It's near-instant.

As a result, you're going to get people who eat it virtually every day. They appear to be addicted to it, but the reality is that everyone needs to eat every day, and a lot of people aren't motivated enough to cook their own food, and not rich enough to afford something better.

Against my better judgement, I tried cocaine once upon a time. (Only once). It's mind-blowing. You feel wonderful for about five minutes, and then you feel like death personified for the next hour - you crave the drug like a drowning man craves air, and that's after trying it once. Fortunately the image of dependency these feelings conjured up in my mind quashed any rational desire to try it ever again, because I knew that I wouldn't be able to stop ever.

I really don't get that feeling with a Big Mac. Yes, it tastes reasonably good at 3AM when you're hopelessly drunk, but that's about it. I wouldn't eat it if somewhere better was open at that time.

 

[tyr_13]

They are absolutely right. Have you ever seen the withdraw symptoms from stopping eating? They make meth addict withdraw look like a mild head cold.

 

[Einzig]

The point of the article seems to really be high amounts of salty foods and sugars are addictive.
I think sugar at least is very addictive, but it depends on the character and genes of people to resist the temptation to overeat.
There are some nice documentaries on the topic.

 

[ponderingturtle]

If obese people put the same effort into exercise that they did finding excuses that absolve them of any responsibility then obesity would stop being an issue within the year.

People feel different levels of compulsions for different acts. Some people feel strong compulsions to some drugs and not others, then there is gambling or sex and so on.

So it is easy to say that those who have strong desires to act in ways that you don't feel any desire to act in are just weak and suffering character flaws. That is commonly expressed against those who are over weight, or by some sectors against homosexuals. I mean how easy is it to just not suck a penis, if they would put the effort in the military into not doing that they they put into getting DADT removed the problem would disappear overnight right?

 

[Primus]

People feel different levels of compulsions for different acts. Some people feel strong compulsions to some drugs and not others, then there is gambling or sex and so on.

So it is easy to say that those who have strong desires to act in ways that you don't feel any desire to act in are just weak and suffering character flaws. That is commonly expressed against those who are over weight, or by some sectors against homosexuals. I mean how easy is it to just not suck a penis, if they would put the effort in the military into not doing that they they put into getting DADT removed the problem would disappear overnight right?

The point I was making was the more people tell obese people it isn't their fault. The less likely anyone is to do anything to help themselves. Over the last couple of years being overweight has had less of a stigma attached to it and as a result more people are now overweight.
It is after all easier to say "I'm an addict" or "It's in my genes" than it is to get on your bike and do something about it.

Your comment about homosexuals is purposely misleading. Being homosexual is not a self inflicted medical condition. It isn't bad for you and it can't be altered. Unless of course I misread you and this is what you were suggesting.

A more suitable comparison would be engaging in large amounts of high risk unprotected sex saying you just can't help yourself and then implying there was nothing you could have done about it when you get ill.

For the record I don't have any major issues with obese people. I just think it's irresponsible to suggest that you can't do anything to fix the problem. Also newspapers giving weight to these arguments can also put off people who would otherwise have done something about it.

 

[Red3]

The article says junk food "(can trigger) addiction-like responses in the brain", and also says it can be just as addictive as smoking and heroin. Don't smoking cigarettes and heroin use lead to physical addictions? Is eating junk food not more similar to the psychological dependency from say, cocaine or weed? If it is, then isn't it just a case of people saying "mmmm, that makes me feel good, i'll have some more"? And if they know it's bad for them and continue to do it, isn't saying they've got an addiction an excuse for them to carry on? "it's not my fault i'm fat, it's an addiction..."

Whatever happened to self discipline?

The point I was making was the more people tell obese people it isn't their fault. The less likely anyone is to do anything to help themselves.

Beat me to it.

 

[ponderingturtle]

The point I was making was the more people tell obese people it isn't their fault. The less likely anyone is to do anything to help themselves. Over the last couple of years being overweight has had less of a stigma attached to it and as a result more people are now overweight.
It is after all easier to say "I'm an addict" or "It's in my genes" than it is to get on your bike and do something about it.

Your comment about homosexuals is purposly misleading. Being homosexual is not a self inflicted medical condition. It isn't bad for you and you can't be altered. Unless of course I misread you and this is what you were suggesting.

A more suitable comparison would be engaging in large amounts of high risk unprotected sex saying you just can't help yourself and then implying there was nothing you could have done about it when you get ill.

For the record I don't have any major issues with obese people. I just think it's irresponsible to suggest that you can't do anything to fix he problem. Also newspapers giving weight to these arguments can also put off people who would otherwise have done something about it.

The thing is that unlike many other things with people with compulsion issues, you can't just not drink or not gamble at all. You have to eat but just enough and not too much. And you are making the assumption that how ever easy that is for you it is that easy for someone else.

I disagree with it being misleading, it is a desire and compulsion you don't feel, and then tell others who do feel it how to deal with it.

There is also the interesting new studies that show that as people start loosing weight they become less able to consider food rationally.

 

[Primus]

The thing is that unlike many other things with people with compulsion issues, you can't just not drink or not gamble at all. You have to eat but just enough and not too much. And you are making the assumption that how ever easy that is for you it is that easy for someone else.

I disagree with it being misleading, it is a desire and compulsion you don't feel, and then tell others who do feel it how to deal with it.

There is also the interesting new studies that show that as people start loosing weight they become less able to consider food rationally.

I agree. It is a compulsion to do something that is detrimental to your wellbeing like gambling. It is however nothing like the crippling physical addiction of heroin or to a lesser extent nicotine.
I also agree that some people do overeat as a symptom of some deeper psychological issues. However show me one person who is overweight for this reason and I will show you four who just like filling their faces and are too lazy to do any exercise.

However if people just enjoy eating, hate exercise and don't mind being fat then more power to them. Just as long as they don't blame someone else when they get ill. Other side of the same coin I also believe smokers should be free to puff away as long as they are fully aware of the dangers involved.

No one ever shouts you down for saying that if smokers don't like the side effects then they should just quit. However people do get very defensive when you suggest if fat people don't like the side effects then they should eat less and run more.

 

[Primus]

I disagree with it being misleading, it is a desire and compulsion you don't feel, and then tell others who do feel it how to deal with it.

I forgot to pick you up on this before.

Firstly you are making a lot of assumptions about myself and how easily I keep my weight down. I am a big guy, when I'm playing a lot of rugby I'm very muscular however in summer I struggle to keep my weight down. I love food which is bad for me and could happily eat it all the time. However I don't, as a bit of hunger is a small price to pay in order to look after yourself.

Secondly I will say again that this is misleading. You deal with being overweight by reducing your weight. You do not deal with being homosexual by stopping being homosexual.
One is only a problem as society decrees it is when it is perfectly natural and the other is a problem as it induces diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure ect.

Unless you a suggesting that homosexuality is a disease that needs to be cured/dealt I still stand by my earlier comment that you are being disingenuous

 

[Beerina]

When at McDonald's, I get panicky if I don't order enough to gorge myself. By that I mean a big sandwich meal of some kind and an extra double cheesburger or two from the dollar menu.

"Panicky" is a bit overstated, but it's a low-grade version of it.


I used to think I was depressed, but I realized that I was actually very anxious in lieu of being contentedly full. It is calming in that sense.

 

[shuize]

Junk food could have some addictive properties. However, I seriously doubt junk food is as addictive as drugs.

Moreover, the solution to obesity is very simple:

Eat less. Exercise more.

 

[DC]

Says this article.

I don't know what to make of it.

What are your opinions and personal experiences?

i dont know for sure. Never have taken really addictive drugs.

But i have really trouble walking past Burger Kings and not ordering something


But red Bull is even more addictive.