Obesity - A Discussion

I believe that it is possible. I believe in the Hippocampus of the brain there is a "chew counter" that helps tell us when we have had enough. That is why people say to chew slower and more before swallowing to feel fuller.

I do believe food can be an addiction, just like anything else can be.

I agree, food can be an addiction.

Food is an addiction but also a person could have medical problems that causes them to be overweight.

I agree with Kelley.

I had a gastric bypass surgery in 2003 because my weight just would not come off.
I joined the YMCA & went 6 days a week for 1 hour or more & lost 3 pounds in 4 months! The surgery was the best thing I could have ever done for myself!

I have been fighting a weight problem for years. My thyroid (T4) was tested and a problem showed up. So they started me on medication. For the last few years they were raising the meds and it would get a bit better then bad again. Now my T3 was tested and they found the problem is there. So now starting all over again with new meds.
For years I was told just eat less. Count calories. People are only fat cause they eat to much. No one ever cared about all the other symptoms. Finally the medical field is opening their eyes. Everyone with a weight problem does not eat to much or for others cannot control their eating. And it becomes a viscious cycle. The larger you are the harder it is to move to the harder it is to loose weight.
I have a long way to go with my thyroid fight but at least now there are doctors who listen and care enough to learn new things including all the new research on thyroid issues.

Priscilla that is wonderful. I would love the surgery but they will not do it till the thyroid is under control.

Denise I also have Thyroid problems. When I was a teen I had thyroid cancer and they removed half of my thyroid. Before all that I was pretty skinny and after I started gaining weight. Then in my late teens I had a baby and that really messed it up. They could never get my meds at the right dose. I've had to work extra hard to get the weight off. It took me these last 3 years to lose about 80lbs and now I don't much more to go but I know I'll always struggle with my weight.

I think it is possible, but not COMMON. Some people use these things as a crutch instead of realizing their mistakes. Others have legitimate medical struggles

I do believe in food addictions. It is shown that some foods that you eat, like pasta, raise serotonin levels in the brain that gives you a feeling of euphoria. Hence they are called Comfort foods. People who have emotional problems often turn to food for this kind of comfort. I do believe that based on the science I have read about it.

I also believe that some have a genetic dispensation towards being obease. My mother weighed 534 at her highest. She was never a very active woman, and her entire family was each well over 500lbs at some point in their lives. Her whole side of the family died in their early 60's from weigh related complications.

I was thin as a child. Very thin. I didn't start to gain weight until I was about 23/24. By the time I was 30, I was over 300lbs. Between how I was brought up (Lazy) and my mom's side all being overweight, I really didn't have much of a chance. I'm down to 244 now though and still dropping, so I'm praying I have found the piece of the puzzel that has been missing.

That show was very sad. I feel for those people... not only are they really fighting an uphill battle, but so many people are rude and make fun of them. Its not right... and we're really all only one piece of cake away from being obese, if you think about it.

{{HUGS}} great discussion, I am glad I found the thread!

I do belive food can be an addiction. I also think people eat because they are bored. Such as smokers are use to having a cigarette in their hands. They quit. They get fat because they start eating more. because they have to have something in that hand to replace the cigarette.

I also believe genetics plays a big part in weight gain or lose.

I also believe health issues / disiblities make a big difference.

I have always been under weight. Til I had my first child. I was able to loose the weight from him with in two years. Than I had my second child.......I was slowly loosing. Til I had my third and last child. I weighed less after giving birth to her. Than what I did before I was pregnat with her. So, she was not my weight gain. I have always been an actice person. I would go on walks when it was nice. Tumble in the snow with the kids. Whjatever to get exercise. because by this I my oldest boy had a weight problem. His started around 9 or 10. Guess what my middle son has gained weight around the same age. It was funny because my daughter lost over 25 lbs in the summer and my son seemed to gain it. He weighs over 72 pounds at 10 yrs old. he is active. He rides a bike, plays at the park, runs in theback yard with our dogs,. he even does sit ups.

Food is not an issue here. Because I watch what my family eats. I tend to keep sweets out of the house most times. I don't buy candy. Halloween is a treat.
My great aunt gained weigh one time it seemed like over night. Never lost it. She died of a heart attack. My aunt on my mom side gain weigh and hasn't been able to loose it. Even goes to a gym a couple times a week. My grandmother was the same way. She gained weigh but couldn't loose it. She was a diabetic..even living in a nursing home she couldn't loose the weight.

Leaving a 10 as my comment!

I keep coming back to this post, but I just am not sure about the questions. One thing I do know, I have read several medical reports about the issue you open with: people without a chemical to tell them they are full. I believe it is called a "satiety index".

I think it is one of the reasons I gained so much weight over the years (plus the lack of exercise).

Yeah food is addiction just like any other addiction. But can be a very dangerous addiction. Since being overweight causes so many other illness's. Genes are funny like that its like they have a mind of their own.
Not all overweight people does not mean its their fault a lot of the time it is the genes that make up that person. But not all have the gene some people just like to eat.

Yes, food can be an addiction. I had to make some major changes in my life in order to lose the weight I did. And the main one was to reteach myself how to eat. I used to come home from work and the first thing I did was get something to eat...whether I was hungry or not. It was a habit!! I always did it...had to do it or things just didn't feel right. Food was my drug of choice.

It is a hard addiction to break. But I managed and now I eat, but only when I am hungry.

I just need to teach myself how to say I will take the Celery instead of the Ice Cream and Baked over Fried and No I am not hungry even if it smells good. Maybe someday.

good article

I believe it is true, anything is possible