In the light of how much attention has been paid to addiction over the last few decades, the amount of mystery that still surrounds the subject is considerable. As a small example, take Dr. Vera Tarman’s words about weighing and measuring ... [Continue Reading]
Happiness Quotient vs. Obesity, Continued
Some national populations have a fortunate genetic heritage that leaves their feel-good genes unfettered, making them happy countries, and we are looking at the inner workings of this phenomenon, with an eye to comparing the happiest with the least ... [Continue Reading]
Study shows fewer higher-dose radiation treatments safe and well tolerated by women with uterine cancer
By Celine Zadorsky Five high-dose radiation treatments targeting uterine cancer rather than the current standard 25 treatments are safe and well-tolerated by patients, a new study published in JAMA Oncology has found. SPARTACUS (Stereotactic Pelvic ... [Continue Reading]
Happiness Quotient vs. Obesity
Do certain genes exert influence over a person’s likelihood of developing an addiction to food and/or eating? It does seem likely. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) will act to suppress the benefits of anandamide (also known as the “bliss ... [Continue Reading]
Feel-Good Genes and Addiction, Continued
Heredity influences the body and brain to have certain attitudes and behaviors around food and eating. This is significant for many reasons. It could influence the effectiveness of any program designed to alleviate the problems that are called, for ... [Continue Reading]
What Goes On In There?
As outlined in the previous post, anandamide (AEA) makes us happy, but for four-fifths of people, FAAH steps up and says, “But just hold on there… Not too happy.” What other substances and processes can influence our moods and ... [Continue Reading]
Feel-Good Genes and Addiction
Here is a story from a 5’2″ elementary school teacher, 24 years of age, who described her life as “miserable” because of disordered eating: [A]fter one personal trainer, over two years of therapy, three juice cleanses, four ... [Continue Reading]
Inherency, Addiction, and People
This discussion has been about which substances in foods may or may not be dangerously attractive. Now, it is about which qualities in humans can, or might, increase their susceptibility to obesity caused by addictive-like eating behavior. What makes ... [Continue Reading]
Inherency and Food Addiction — Some Thoughts
We have quoted before from a landmark 2014 paper with a dozen authors, titled “‘Eating addiction’, rather than ‘food addiction’, better captures addictive-like eating behavior.” Humans who overeat usually do not ... [Continue Reading]
Inherency and Food Addiction and Factors
Food Addiction (FA) causality will probably never be a settled matter because, in matters like this, various factors can change. It is difficult, in other words, to do any kind of deliberate study in the real world because we cannot set hard rules ... [Continue Reading]
Inherency and Food Addiction, a Wrinkle
Recent posts have rehashed the points made by various authorities about whether food, or some components of food, or components of some foods, can be physically addicting in the same way as heroin, cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, etc. Or maybe, the ... [Continue Reading]
Inherency and Food Addiction, Continued
The previous post mentioned some of the authorities who have a hard time justifying a scientific basis for the intrinsic addictiveness of foodstuffs. But always, there is just enough evidence to make the possibility tantalizingly attractive to many ... [Continue Reading]
Inherency and Food Addiction
Debate continues about whether some foods can be addictive in the same sense as, for instance, heroin. Is the addictiveness inherent in the food, or in the person? Or does it have to be both, two variables with the potential to cause damage, and when ... [Continue Reading]
Some Wrinkles in the Food Addiction Concept
Many aspects of the food addiction (FA) concept can be discussed extensively, including whether we are talking about a substance addiction or a behavioral addiction, or both, or neither; and even whether there are more than two main camps. Discussing ... [Continue Reading]