Food Addict Drug Addict

Online, April 5, 2011 (Newswire.com) - A recent study states that the brain of a person who is addicted to food functions the same way of a person who is addicted to drugs.

"Researchers at Yale University's Rudd Center for Obesity Research and Policy set out to probe the potential parallel between food addiction and substance dependence. The former isn't yet recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as a psychiatric disorder, while the latter is defined by a set of clear criteria.

Before this study, Ashley Gearhardt, a doctoral student at Yale, had devised a tool for assessing food addiction. She based her 25-point questionnaire ("I have found that I have elevated desire for or urges to consume certain foods when I cut down or stop eating them," for instance, and "My behavior with respect to food and eating causes significant distress.") on that used to diagnose substance dependence.

According to the Yale Food Addiction Scale, as the instrument is called, some of the 39 young women included in the study showed signs of being addicted to food. While some were lean, some obese, and some in between, their weight wasn't related to their likelihood or degree of food addiction.

Gearhardt and her team used functional MRI to record brain activity as the women were shown images of yummy chocolate shakes and of a clear, taste-free solution. MRI images were also recorded while the women actually sampled those beverages. (The study explains that the clear formula was made to replicate saliva, as the taste of water actually triggers activity in some brain receptors.)

http://globalfitnessjournal.org

As was expected, the parts of the brain associated with anticipation and craving were activated by the image of the chocolate shake among women with symptoms of food addiction. But once they tasted the shake, the parts of their brain that should signal them to slow down showed decreased activity, essentially encouraging them to seek more chocolate shake."

Source: washingtonpost.com

It is suggested in order to be addicted to any substance a person must have an "addictive personality". The disease of addiction can be related to anything. A person can become addicted to food, drugs, or even exercise. If it is determined that you have an addicted personalilty then obviously you must seek professional help.

It could also be helpful if you can direct the addiction to something positive such as exercise.

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