Food Addiction: Why We Can't Stop Eating

Neal Barnard, M.D., joins the show to explain how the brain reacts similarly to certain foods as it does to narcotics. There is a reason why we crave high-fat and high-calorie foods.

[doreenlloyd]

If I don't eat what I'm craving, I pick at other things, until I give in and eat what I want. So I end up eating even more food.

[kellyk.]

Who's here because you wanna go on a diet, but the struggle is real 😣

[Equinox.]

Dr Barnard is so right about addiction not being a moral failing. It's just dopamine hijacking. I wish everyone would look at it this way.

[c.harlotte]

I just want to have a healthy relationship with food. But I either overeat or eat barely anything. I just want to get it right

[jademusic]

As someone with a long-term eating disorder, there are a number of factors involved, food addiction being one of them.

[SableTalks]

“Addiction isn’t a moral failing”. Based on my reaction, these words will stick w/me forever.

[JoMaisBure]

for the record, in case anyone is wondering, Dr. Bernard is SIXTY SIX YEARS OLD

[asterbohdi]

Dealt with feelings of loneliness and disappointment almost my whole life, which i have used food to fill the void. The more unsatisfied or lonely i feel the stronger my desire to eat to feel better becomes ...never works though does it

[sternits]

I’ve been addicted to bad-for-me foods for 50+ years. Been doing low carb high fat for over a year and I have no cravings at all. There were side effects: Lost 40 lbs and A1C went from 7.9 to 6.1. I’m still a work in progress.

[cindinelson]

I am disgusted with myself for overeating. I can do ok during the day but at dinner( between 5:00/6pm) I am overeating and continue to do so until I fall asleep and then if i get up for any reason i get something and take it back to bed with me. I've woke up with peanut butter crackers still in my hand. This was pretty interesting and educational. What bums me out is being able to intellectualize this with your brain but still continue to overeat/binge food. I've done alot of the usual things to stop, lose weight but my food addiction wins out every time.
Even though I'm pretty discouraged by this and my weight I'm definitely not going to give up finding a solution.

[SantosArtistry]

I am not addicted to a certain food, but I am addicted to eating period. It does mot matter if it is carrots or cereal, I just want to eat :( even if I am already full

[richyh]

I honestly can’t stop eating junk food. Sometimes I will go to the gym and eat well for three or four days but before long I am back snacking and phoning takeaways and eating chocolate and loads of ice cream etc . And when I start eating junk food I eat about 3000 calories at a time. I don’t think I can stop and I’m worried how my health is going to be in the next five years. I am only 33 just now but I have noticed on the last two years it is taking its effects big time

[leonardwashington]

Food addiction is worse than drugs or alcohol because you have to eat to live.

[Tam]

Dr Barnard is so comforting...and I always learn so much

[tinab]

Food addiction is so real and so painful to live with. People make fun of you for your weight. You learn to cope with life and pain by eating to make yourself feel better. It’s a vicious cycle of self hatred, guilt and shame. Food addiction is harder to get over than cocaine.

[Veggielover]

Dr. Barnard always provides great information. Thank you!

[Cookiebr]

No one mentioned salty foods. They stimulate the appetite!

[thephoenixcycle]

Im a binge. I can't stop.. lm so full that my body hurts... I can't seem to click over to stop

[Idaho-Idaho]

Focus on a healthy lifestyle and the weight-loss will take care of it's self. Success requires the discovery of a motivational trigger that you can maintain. I have forced myself to carry a small card (credit card-size) that has two sides. One side lists poisons (dairy, meat, sugars, pop, oils) and the other side lists medicines (fruit, vegetables, beans, seeds). Before I decide to eat anything, I look at the card and remind myself of whether it is a poison or medicine. Who wants to eat poison? Conclusion: find your motivation and stick to it for life.

[savedbygrace]

Interestingly, is example of narcan taking away the pleasure of sugar, I had the exact same thing with vaping nicotine vs. smoking. For some reason, vaping took away the pleasure of smoking, so I used it to my advantage. Before I smoked, I would vape. Eventually I quit smoking, and then I was able to gradually decrease the nicotine dosage lower & lower until I was able to quit vaping & nicotine entirely.