Article: Scientists claim junk food is as addictive as heroin

Yesterday, I came across an article that I had to share with all of you, even though it is not about Narcolepsy.  The title of the article, “Scientists claim junk food is as addictive as heroin,” pretty much sums it up: researchers at one institute have discovered that “the brain responds to junk food (salty, sweet, and fatty processed food) much the way it does to heroin.”

That finding alone was pretty shocking to me. 

Here I am, Miss “I’ve-never-so-much-as-touched-illegal-drugs-or- even-cigarettes,” thinking I’ve been so good about keeping away from the really bad for you, really addictive things, when it turns out that junk food (although not as bad for you as illegal drugs) is just as addictive…  My jaw just dropped.

But it gets worse when you read about the rest of their findings: according to this study, eating lots of junk food actually decreases the sensitivity of the pleasure centers of the brain (!), causing one to eat even more junk food just to get the same response as before.  Now you understand why the scientists are saying it’s like heroin…

I have been thinking about this article a lot today, and now I can’t help but look at junk food and obesity a bit differently.  Unlike, say, a heroin addiction, addiction to junk food isn’t really taken all that seriously in our society, despite the fact that so many people suffer from it.  If junk food is really as addictive as heroin (which it is in rats apparently), then clearly resisting it is more than a matter of finding more willpower.

If you have trouble putting down a bag of potato chips, one has to think now that the problem isn’t just a matter of willpower (as many people would imagine).  In fact, it’s far more serious… and after reading this article, I have to think that maybe we as a nation aren’t taking the problem seriously enough.

I also couldn’t help but ask myself, if the pleasure centers of the brain actually decrease in sensitivity when you eat lots of junk food on a regular basis, does that mean that you get reduced pleasure from other non-food related activities as well?  If the answer is yes, than that is extremely troublesome.  However, the article did not deal with this question.

I know that many Narcoleptics struggle with weight issues and food issues, so I thought that some of you might be interested in this.  I would definitely recommend that you read the article if you are interested, as it says some other things that are interesting as well.

Thoughts?