Should Obesity Be Treated Like an Addiction?

submit to reddit

The definition of addiction has been expanding all over the place, with rehab programs springing up for Internet addicts and class action lawsuits hinging on whether gambling falls under the addiction umbrella. Given the latest obesity studies proclaiming the eventual corpulence of everyone in America, it’s worth asking: Is overeating an addiction, and should it be treated like one?

So far, research on obesity has followed pretty much the same line as research on gambling, Web surfing, and other compulsive behaviors: When the brains of an overeater, compulsive gambler, etc. are examined, their increases and reductions in dopamine receptors follow similar patterns to those in drug addicts.

Now, a new drug developed to treat drug addition has also been shown to cause rapid weight loss. Called vigabatrin, the drug is currently in the clinical test phase for cocaine and methamphetamine dependence.

After examining earlier evidence of a strong connection between obesity and cocaine addiction, researchers at Brookhaven Lab decided to test the drug’s effect on weight loss. Sure enough, when they administered it short-term to obese and regular-weight animals, the former lost up to 19 percent of their total weight, while the latter lost between 12 and 20 percent.

Certainly all these drug addiction/obesity links bolster the findings that obesity is tied to genetics. Still, classifying obesity as a form of addiction runs the risk of minimizing the cadre of other factors, from modern technology to socioeconomics, that have been shown to contribute to the current epidemic. Or maybe they’ve all joined together to form a perfect obesity storm. Either way, unless we take quick action, predictions that once sounded ridiculous may start to come true.

August 20th, 2008 Tags:
by Melissa Lafsky in Health Care, Nutrition & Obesity | 143 comments | RSS feed | Trackback >

143 Responses to “Should Obesity Be Treated Like an Addiction?”

  1. 1.   Locke-Trufeld Says:

    http://www.arkhamgames.com/viagra.html [url="http://www.arkhamgames.com/viagra.html"]viagra[/url] viagra vxwnu

  2. 2.   boypwt Says:

    peTMlv jiatsaxxpkqz, [url=http://doyliifgomod.com/]doyliifgomod[/url], [link=http://ofbzzvklnvmw.com/]ofbzzvklnvmw[/link], http://ozipihededsl.com/

  3. 3.   Wireviel Says:
  4. 4.   Nydardon Says:
  5. 5.   Seveikon Says:
  6. 6.   Kauwien Says:
  7. 7.   Ybireweth Says:
  8. 8.   Hedriwina Says:
  9. 9.   Caobwyt Says:
  10. 10.   Cadaema Says:

    Perfect work!, map70, map129, map191, map119, map27,

  11. 11.   acai berries Says:

    wonderful job, acai berries, xhsk, acai berry power 500, 743, ambien generic, %PPP, buy ambien online, 8),

  12. 12.   Crore Says:

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right., map138, map128, map52, map18, map97,

  13. 13.   Felilia Says:
  14. 14.   Cilabaen Says:

    Excellent site. It was pleasant to me., map192, map19, map166, map139, map194,

  15. 15.   Mendajan Says:
  16. 16.   Roma Says:

    Great. Now i can say thank you!, map43, map68, map73, map46, map115,

  17. 17.   Galaliwen Says:
  18. 18.   Sauwiel Says:

    Very cute :-) ))), map23, map71, map92, map116, map13,

  19. 19.   Salessi Says:
  20. 20.   Glaunnon Says:

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right., map157, map76, map178, map184, map81,

  21. 21.   Onythien Says:
  22. 22.   Abeniel Says:
  23. 23.   Groanythkj Says:
  24. 24.   Kedaekith Says:

    If you have to do it, you might as well do it right., map40, map195, map135, map11, map3,

  25. 25.   Cadearin Says:

    Great site. Keep doing.,

  26. 26.   Nering Says:

    I want to say – thank you for this!,

  27. 27.   Droithien Says:

    Great. Now i can say thank you!, map198, map189, map141, map114, map111,

  28. 28.   auto loan calculator online Says:

    interesting opinion, thanks, alltel ringtones online, :]], verizon ringtones online, 900, auto loan calculator online, 405416,

  29. 29.   Adaywen Says:
  30. 30.   Aleric Says:

    I want to say – thank you for this!, map190, map94, map54, map52, map141,

  31. 31.   Ibaen Says:
  32. 32.   Bolind Says:

    Very cute :-) ))), map120, map5, map35, map184, map74,

  33. 33.   Astilith Says:
  34. 34.   Larerrawen Says:
  35. 35.   Afelan Says:
  36. 36.   Praulia Says:
  37. 37.   totally free verizon ringtones Says:

    interesting opinion, thanks, hiv dating online, 8-DDD, verizon wireless ringtones, oruclw, do you need a perscription to buy vicodin in mumbai india, 2156,

  38. 38.   Fardohar Says:
  39. 39.   Kedealind Says:
  40. 40.   Freak Says:
  41. 41.   Griagordae Says:
  42. 42.   Astieryn Says:
  43. 43.   generic ambien without a prescription Says:

    i just impressed, identify ambien cr generic, 77037,

  44. 44.   Gorewien Says:
  45. 45.   Goeviel Says:
  46. 46.   Miroredan Says:
  47. 47.   bad credit ok car loans Says:

    thank you for your great resource, bad credit auto loan refinance, 2478, medicines hydrocodone buy lortab online, fmdkih, what does the pill hydrocodone apap 500 look like, wzd, bad credit ok car loans, 846290,

  48. 48.   Vieni Says:
  49. 49.   Edolith Says:
  50. 50.   Adeidda Says:
  51. 51.   Boewyn Says:
  52. 52.   download voice ringtones Says:

    how can i conact you, cheap carisoprodol, 460009, buy united states tamiflu, xkqciq, auto loan calculator amortization, xxy, download ringtones online, 60342,

  53. 53.   Cesien Says:
  54. 54.   also Says:
  55. 55.   Grimwen Says:
  56. 56.   every Says:
  57. 57.   case Says:
  58. 58.   Edelia Says:
  59. 59.   until Says:
  60. 60.   Umohalith Says:
  61. 61.   difficult Says:
  62. 62.   Haoiri Says:
  63. 63.   Pudia Says:
  64. 64.   include Says:
  65. 65.   machine Says:
  66. 66.   snow Says:
  67. 67.   discuss Says:
  68. 68.   pitch Says:
  69. 69.   Anonymous Says:

    how can i conact you,

  70. 70.   invent Says:
  71. 71.   should Says:
  72. 72.   fast Says:
  73. 73.   some Says:
  74. 74.   case Says:
  75. 75.   tool Says:
  76. 76.   cross Says:
  77. 77.   Gromoxku Says:

    thanks, that it, online auto loans, povchl,

  78. 78.   design Says:
  79. 79.   Afalibeth Says:
  80. 80.   have Says:
  81. 81.   Seviweth Says:
  82. 82.   Treakred Says:

    Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!, ediet review, air force dietitian, sprinter diet, bo dietl, day diet one studycom,

  83. 83.   Aisien Says:
  84. 84.   Glaveth Says:
  85. 85.   Arodric Says:
  86. 86.   Dendamma Says:
  87. 87.   Drirahar Says:
  88. 88.   Oligon Says:
  89. 89.   Afardoweth Says:
  90. 90.   Glaveth Says:
  91. 91.   Oniaseth Says:
  92. 92.   Praredia Says:
  93. 93.   порно толстые онлайн Says:

    Спасибо за пост.

  94. 94.   Umalian Says:
  95. 95.   Welatlan Says:
  96. 96.   Legelawan Says:
  97. 97.   Adelihare Says:
  98. 98.   Miroiwyrar Says:
  99. 99.   Taecien Says:
  100. 100.   Zaessa Says:
  101. 101.   Tharethiel Says:
  102. 102.   wide Says:
  103. 103.   Etalewen Says:
  104. 104.   bright Says:
  105. 105.   Praolla Says:
  106. 106.   Pharmd621 Says:

    Very nice site! cheap viagra

  107. 107.   Pharmd370 Says:

    Very nice site! [url=http://aieopxy.com/osoxavv/2.html]cheap cialis[/url]

  108. 108.   Pharme301 Says:

    Very nice site! cheap cialis http://aieopxy.com/osoxavv/4.html

  109. 109.   Pharme505 Says:

    Very nice site!

  110. 110.   Lariwia Says:
  111. 111.   Dwauloth Says:
  112. 112.   necessary Says:
  113. 113.   Kerinwan Says:
  114. 114.   Glerimma Says:
  115. 115.   Cadearin Says:
  116. 116.   Maedith Says:
  117. 117.   Etie Says:
  118. 118.   Adwon Says:
  119. 119.   Wicardodia Says:
  120. 120.   Edorede Says:
  121. 121.   Umalian Says:
  122. 122.   Sevardoven Says:
  123. 123.   Yilille Says:
  124. 124.   Loathien Says:
  125. 125.   Jeirinte Says:
  126. 126.   Pharmd830 Says:

    Very nice site! cheap viagra

  127. 127.   Pharme626 Says:

    Very nice site! [url=http://apeyixo.com/ysyrxas/2.html]cheap cialis[/url]

  128. 128.   Pharmk459 Says:

    Very nice site! cheap cialis http://apeyixo.com/ysyrxas/4.html

  129. 129.   Pharma967 Says:

    Very nice site!

  130. 130.   Prierien Says:
  131. 131.   анастасия порно Says:

    [url=http://fyfk.ru/]Супер порно[/url]

  132. 132.   application car loan online Says:

    comment1, car loans for bad credit or no credit, 229, bank of america car loans, bbomp, best car loan, 915, application car loan online, 8], bad car credit history loan, 9224,

  133. 133.   Billy Bonds Says:

    This is just my sort of my music, thank you! I found loads like this to download at http://www.legal5ounds.com

  134. 134.   cheap new and used car loans uk Says:

    hello, thanks for this post, car loans for people with bad credit, =PPP, car loans for bad credit, 8PP, car loans for people with bad credit, 8))), car title loans, %DDD, cheap new and used car loans uk, =OOO,

  135. 135.   compare car loans Says:

    good site, great job, cheapest car loans australia, =-))), car loans & compare, 31078, gmac car loans, kqc, jeep wrangler guaranteed car loan, 8-]]], how to get a car loan, bexr,

  136. 136.   Zayng Says:
  137. 137.   dealership who gives poor credit most car loans Says:

    i found it in google, low interest new car loans, cmsrfp, new jersey car title loans, lrsrdi, car loans for bad credit or no credit, egux, fast car loans online, 85684, dealership who gives poor credit most car loans, =-),

  138. 138.   Gwerralian Says:
  139. 139.   Chigosa Says:
  140. 140.   24 hour payday loan Says:

    i will do as you say, new and used car financing auto loans finance great interest, 107546, 1 hour faxless cash advance, 2900, 1 hour payday loans, 75437, 24 hour payday loan, :P P, 30 day payday loan, 26569,

  141. 141.   Feide Says:
  142. 142.   Etheac Says:
  143. 143.   Qiraswen Says:

Leave a Reply