"dopamine" news and stories

That's the latest theory on why we're so fat: we're addicted to food.

Now, if by "addicted" they mean "I need to eat it in order to survive," then yeah, I'm "addicted," but I don't think that this is true for most people. Not only do people eat too much in general, but they eat too much of the wrong foods, don't exercise and go on diets that ultimately fail. However, I think the theory is a twisting of the word "addiction." To compare it to drug addiction is strange. After all, in a normal, healthy situation, we don't need cocaine to live. We do need food and drink, so I think they should focus their research on something else.

There is a meeting at Yale's Rudd Center this week to explore this theory more.

A recent Newsday story looks at overeating from a neurological perspective, likening it to other forms of addiction. One study cited in the article found that drug abusers and overeaters had similarly low numbers of dopamine receptors, which are partly responsible for feelings of satisfaction and fullness. Other studies have found that some obese people's brain chemistry contributes to heightened feelings of pleasure from food. Experts cited in the article are hesitant to formally categorize overeating as an addiction, however. Still, many feel that examining it from that angle may help develop more effective treatment methods.