Reply #23: I have to question whether overeating is really like addiction to drugs. [View All]

[Deep13]

I don't doubt that many people have psychological dependencies to overeating or other bad habits like gambling, pornography etc. Still, I wonder if it really is the same as the physical addiction that drug users experience. Does a food "addict" have withdrawal symptoms if he stops eating to much? Well, as someone who does eat too much, I can tell you that I have never had withdrawal symptoms when I drastically reduced calories, either by choice or from illness. I do know that over-eating is different from other self-destructive ways in one respect: one cannot quit eating.

I also must repeat my oft stated skepticism of 12 step groups. While there may be some benefit to the emotional support ones gets from a group environment, there is no reason to think that the 12 steps or any of the "program" do anything to help their practitioners. I know you are a believer, but even so if you are honest then you must know that no god* is going to make you eat better. That is why the programs that do work like Weight Watchers all focus on caloric intake and not on psychological well-being.

*Yes, yes, yes, I know it is god as one understands him. (Why "him" BTW?) Still one cannot define that god to make him something other than god and still be honest about it.