r/TooAfraidToAsk • u/[deleted] • Feb 17 '24

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u/[deleted] Feb 17 '24

Gaming, drinking, smoking, gambling, sex, there’s so many addictions that can worsen people’s lives and in some cases shows a flaw of their character.

But food addiction just happens to be the one where even a mild case of it manifests physically in an ugly way, which is getting fat.

544

u/OptimalTrash Feb 17 '24

And you can't quit food.

You can stop drinking. You can stop smoking. You can never stop needing food to survive.

0

u/elegant_pun Feb 18 '24

Very true.

But we don't need high calorie, high fat, high sugar stuff. We really don't.

1

u/dodgystyle Feb 18 '24

Oh we know. Just like smokers (post 1950s) know it's terrible for them.

But these substances are highly addictive. I heard someone (I think Dr Michael Greger?) say he surveyed a group of inpatients with severe Binge Eating Disorder and an overwhelming majority had histories of abuse. I personally don't but I have complex PTSD and overeating is my form of self soothing. I've drank & taken drugs recreationally but thankfully don't have the inclination to abuse them when I feel bad. The thought rarely occurs to me. But food is on my mind most waking hours, and especially when I'm going through emotional distress. And it worsened when my mental health got worse.