"Doctors are indeed examining the pathways that prompt and reward eating. ... But before that kind of magic potion arrives (which we probably wouldn't want to give our kids anyway), maybe we can all make some better choices, one meal at a time."
Dr. Schwarzberg discusses the problematic nature of treating food addiction. Unlike addiction to anything else, food addicts cannot give up eating altogether: "Treatment of most addictions focuses on abstinence. & But the food addict can't just abstain from eating - every meal is like putting a martini on the table in front of the alcoholic and saying, well, just one sip."
Because recovering food addicts must continue to eat, treatment providers are focusing more on the key emotional and physiological aspects that contribute to food abuse. Just like a drug addict who must take medication for a certain condition, the focus becomes more on preventing an altered mood state from occurring during use than on complete abstinence.
(Source: www.nydailynews.com)
Labels: eating disorder, compulsive overeating
Posted By: Aspen Education Group