I was flipping through the channels on TV the other day and ran across a television show of 4 individuals that were "super obese." We're not even obese any more. We have gotten so obese that we now have the term, "super obese." I looked up super obese on the internet and see that the definition of super obese is a BMI of 50-60. Not only that, there's also a super-super obese which is a BMI of over 60.
What is happening to us? Of the 4 super obese people, one was eating over 33,000 calories a day. They were literally killing themselves with food. A few were bed-ridden and no longer able to get out of bed or care for themselves. Not even their personal hygiene.
As well as disturbing I find it very sad that one would willingly eat themselves to death. Something like that doesn't happen overnight. You know that you keep buying a size larger and larger of clothes. You have to start feeling a huge drop in energy and your life is heading down the tubes. It's a serious addiction and it could happen (in varying degrees) to any of us.
Food is their "crack" and they keep feeding their addiction to the point that they don't care and they are too far gone. It's way past eating for comfort. I know there have been times that any of us eat for comfort-I have but, most of us are able to get a hold of ourselves and say-that's enough! It's not about how the food tastes anymore. I say this all the time-being seriously overweight is an outward sign of something wrong going on the inside.
It's not about lack of education of how many calories you're eating or what foods are bad for you. Anyone knows that eating any mass quantity of food, good or bad, is eventually going to kill you and to keep it up is certain suicide.
I found it very interesting also that their families kept feeding them (aiding and abetting) saying that it's the only thing that makes them happy, they do it because they love them, or they'll find a way to get the food anyway. This is not love. Why would you want to see someone that you love slowly kill themselves? Why would you want to help them kill themselves?
You wouldn't buy alcohol for an alcoholic or you wouldn't buy heroine for a drug addict, and you wouldn't buy porn for someone that is struggling with a porn addiction, yet we see food as something different. It's a more acceptable (somewhat) addiction than those previously mentioned.
I really think that food addiction is something that is tougher to kick than a drug, porn, or alcohol. Face it; we have to eat to live. There's no doubt about that. It's not something we just cut out all together. According to an article in Web MD, here are some of the signs of a food addiction:
- Being obsessed and/or preoccupied with food.
- Having a lack of self-control when it comes to food.
- Having a compulsion about food in which eating results in a cycle of bingeing despite negative consequences.
- Remembering a sense of pleasure and/or comfort with food and being unable to stop using food to create a sense of pleasure and comfort.
- Having a need to eat which results in a physical craving.
The following are questions that potential food addicts may ask themselves:
- Have I tried but failed to control my eating?
- Do I find myself hiding food or secretly binging?
- Do I have feelings of guilt or remorse after eating?
- Do I eat over emotions?
- Is my weight affecting my way of life?
So what is the answer? I'm not a psychologist or doctor but I do know that prevention is a lot easier than trying to find the cure. If you see any of these signs of food addiction I would think it best to get medical attention or consultation long before it develops into a disease or even death in the most extreme cases. Being overweight is absolutely preventable and curable with the following:
- Healthy, low fat diet
- Cut out processed foods
- Limit sugar, fat, and salt
- Eat foods with color such as fruits and vegetables. If your plate of food is beige, it's not likely to be anything healthy.
- Add moderate cardio and strength training 5 times a week
- Drink plenty of water
- Use portion control
- Eat slowly. Take time to taste your food.
- Eat several small meals
- Get a good night's sleep
The things listed above are the obvious. If you aren't able to conquer this on your own by all means, get help.
The number one reason people come to me for help is they can't or won't do it on their own. They need someone to be accountable to or they need the support of another person. It's okay to admit you need help and go after it. The majority of trainers and coaches in the business of fitness are in it because they genuinely care about people. They want to help.
To me, there's no greater reward than to see the transformation in one's personality and confidence once they have made healthy changes in their body. I get excited every time I hear their "born again" testimony.
Each time I take my troops through a presentation for fitness challenge they laugh a little when I say "transform your body, transform your life" but when they have met and/or exceeded their goals-they get it!
If you're not happy with how you look or feel right now I challenge you to "get disturbed" but don't stop there-take action!
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