Compulsive Overeating and How to Stop It

www.webmd.com/diet/featu
res/compulsive-overeating-
and-how-to-stop-it

I zapped right into the addiction model in which the author likened sugary, salty, high fat foods to alcohol and other substances...couldn't agree MORE!

From the article: ...sees similarities between situations that trigger drug abusers and those that make some people automatically order popcorn when they see a movie.

"It's the same biological mechanism," says Volkow, who studies dopamine connections to drug abuse and obesity.

The institute is studying brain chemistry to develop strategies to help people control those urges to overeat.

"People need to learn to handle their eating behaviors better," Volkow says. "Be aware of your conditioned responses. You can avoid that activity."

...believes conditioned hypereaters can take back control. He also calls for the food industry to take another look at how it makes and markets products that he believes manipulate eating behavior.

"It's become pretty egregious across the board," he says. "You look at most appetizers and main dishes at where America eats, and they're just layered and loaded with fat and sugar and salt. And it's not obvious."

With food, he wants to raise awareness of the cues that set many people into a hard-to-break cycle of overeating.

Instead of simply going on a diet, conditioned hypereaters need to change the way they approach food.
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Hey, sounds like the SPARKPEOPLE approach! :-)

Although I have to admit to my own tweaks which are not necessarily advocated by others. Your mileage may vary...! But for me, just as an alcoholic can't have "just a little," I have to view those sugary, starchy, baked goods, cereals, etc. in the same light as an alcoholic in successful recovery: I just don't go there! Removing all of these substances from my home, my life, has made ALL THE DIFFERENCE for me! I know in my bones that I simply can't have "just a little" without awakening the sleeping tiger within! Some may feel overly deprived or resentful...but I feel such RELIEF!

I was just congratulating a co-worker this morning as she seems to have "turned the page," "flipped the switch" and has transformed her lifestyle just as SO many of us here at SparkPeople have done. It's so difficult to explain to others how it is that this happens. You know, it'd be nice if we could pinpoint this and like write up a prescription for success...?!?!

Perhaps that's what Chris Downie is doing with his new upcoming book, "The Spark"...? I can't wait to see this come out and really push SparkPeople into the limelight! Woo hoo!

Don