There is a misconception that people cross the threshold of obesity because food addiction occurs and they cannot refrain from consuming large amounts of food. But is this habit considered, from a medical point of view, an addiction in the true sense of the word? Mihai Ionescu, Doctor of Excellence in Obesity Surgery, dismantles this preconception by explaining why the appetite for food cannot be placed in the same category as alcohol or drug addiction and why it cannot be treated in the same way.
Surgeon Mihai Ionescu says that many put obesity on the basis of a so-called food addiction. Realistically speaking, we cannot reconcile craving for food with a true addiction to alcohol, medicine or drugs. Food addiction as a cause of obesity is extremely rare. Although some people with obesity have eating disorders, such as binge eating disorder, most people become obese due to a number of factors.
When dealing with addictions, such as alcohol or drugs, one of the first steps is to completely remove these stimulants from the patient’s life. This strategy does not apply to obesity, as we cannot completely eliminate food, which keeps the human body alive.
In the case of obesity, the triggers are both the daily habit of consuming foods with more calories than the body burns, and factors related to the patient’s lifestyle.
- Insufficient sleep
- Consumption of foods that can increase Body fat (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, trans fat, processed meats and processed grains)
- Low intake of foods that fight fat (fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, quality proteins)
- Stress and mental suffering
- Many types of drugs
- Pollutants
Obesity is progressive
Obesity leads to greater obesity, which is why the disease is considered progressive. Weight gain causes a number of signs (hormonal disorders) in the body which increase the risk of obesity. To make matters worse, obesity affects certain functions of the body that control appetite and causes an increase in the amount of food consumed at each meal and a desire to eat more often.
So there are many more causes of obesity than an “addiction” to food.
Treating obesity only as an addiction can help a very small percentage of individuals whose only underlying cause of obesity is overeating and is addictive. However, it is unlikely to work, especially in those with severe obesity.
Obesity is accompanied by many conditions, some of which are even life-threatening. That is why it is recommended to take action to get rid of the extra pounds as quickly as possible. Stomach reduction surgery is recommended as an effective solution for people with grade II obesity, who have associated diseases, or for those with morbid obesity, i.e. from grade III and above, when it is considered that the associated suffering occurs automatically. In these cases, losing the extra pounds is no longer a fad, but a real necessity to minimize the unwanted health effects of obesity as quickly as possible. We are talking about medical complications that can lead, over time, to death.
After the operation, the daily energy consumption of the organism will not be reduced, but, according to studies, it will be increased. In the long run, it is nearly impossible for a person who was in the obesity segment to keep their weight low except through such surgery, explains Mihai Ionescu, a top surgeon in obesity surgery.
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