[Mona]

Bad new for fast food lovers – your favorite meal could be just as addictive as heroin or cocaine.

Scientists have found that chemical processes triggered by the high quantities of fat, sugar and salt hidden in burgers and milkshakes give people the same cravings as hard drugs, tobacco or alcohol do.



Researchers discovered earlier this year that laboratory rats became addicted to a bad diet in the same way that people became dependent on hard drugs.

Now experiments with humans have shown that junk food does indeed lead to addiction-like cravings. When people are shown the pictures of their favorite foods, a decision-making area of the brain called the orbital frontal cortex experiences a surge of dopamine. The same area activated when cocaine addicts are shown a bag of drug powder.

As a result, more and more food is consumed in order to achieve a pleasurable feeling of satisfaction therefor the weight piles on. 

The findings could lead to claims for compensation against fast-food firms similar to those launched against tobacco companies, and calls for cigarette-style health warnings to be placed on boxes and wrappers.

The research comes as Britain fights a rising wave of obesity, with weight loss surgery alone costing the NHS more than £32 million a year.

What do you think? Do you feel the addiction?

[Mona]

And as a follow-up to the above article:

Obesity epidemic simply caused by eating too much

The obesity epidemic has nothing to do with modern sedentary lifestyles and is entirely down to unhealthy diet, a leading academic has claimed.

Despite appearances, overall physical activity levels haven't changed for the last quarter of a century, during which time weight levels have rocketed, Professor John Speakman said at the British Science Festival in Birmingham.

He claimed that the average man burned 1380 calories per day in the 1980s and continues to do so today. The average woman has burned 950 calories a day during the same period. But the calorie intake has increased by at least a third to on average 3,500 calories a day, he said.

Prof Speakman, a member of the Energetics Research Group at the University of Aberdeen, said that his research showed that small changes in lifestyle were not enough to fight the obesity crisis.

‘The idea that small changes in life style are enough to offset obesity is wrong. In fact enormous changes in energy balance are needed and that can only realistically be achieved through changes in diet.’

‘We should be promoting exercise for health reasons but weight is not realistically going to benefit from exercise,’ he said. ‘Dieting on the other hand does have an effect on energy intake and this is a more realistic approach.’

What do you think of this? Do you exercise regularly but seem unable to lose weight? Do you know what your real daily calories intake is?

[Such a Bia♥●•٠·˙]

I'm damn addicted to good food, and thats great, I dont suffer from some anorexia or whatever... I enjoy unhealthy stuff and Im not fat at all, Go to the gym at least 3 times a week and you'll be ok;)

[Veronica]

junk food isn't good for health and now in early 20s we might not notice how much it affects us but after 35 we'll definitely feel it

[bHIPEnergyBlend]

It depends on where you are in the world. In some cultures, if a girl isn't fat she is considered unattractive because she looks unfed, and therefore, unhealthy.

[Such a Bia♥●•٠·˙]

bHIPEnergyBlend, on 15 January 2011 - 06:29 AM, said:

It depends on where you are in the world. In some cultures, if a girl isn't fat she is considered unattractive because she looks unfed, and therefore, unhealthy.

do such traditions still exist???

[bHIPEnergyBlend]

Such a Bia♥●•٠·˙, on 02 February 2011 - 10:59 AM, said:

do such traditions still exist???

Yes, in India.

[henree]

Despite appearances, coverall animal manifestation levels port's exchanged for the live human of a century, during which experience coefficient levels acquire rocketed, Professor Gospel Speak man said at the British Study Celebration in Metropolis.He claimed that the ordinary man turn 1380 calories per day in the 1980s and continues to do so today. The mediocre black has burned 950 calories a day during the same stop. But the calorie intake has exaggerated by at least a bag to on mediocre 3,500 calories a day, he said.



life insurance quotes
level term life insurance

[Miss Provocateur]

Junk food is evil