Eating for a Change Almost 90% of Americans believe they are overweight 35% say they want to lose at least 15 pounds Dieting is a $46B industry

Obesity- exceeding the average weight by 20% ¼ - 1/3 adults fit this category Obesity affects more people (1.3B) in the world than underweight (800M) Psychological effects Interpersonal/ sexual anxiety, job discrimination Physical effects High blood pressure/Heart disease Diabetes Back/ joint problems Respiratory disorders/ apnea Cancers

Eating disorders Obesity Anorexia Bulimia Binge Eating Disorder

Why has obesity increased so much? Food has always been a means to show love Stressed people just want convenient meals Agribusiness has increased the richness of food, adding sugars & marketing Meal portions have increased Children don’t play outside after school as much Video games increased Toys skew “normal” Barbie would be ! GI Joe has buffed up!

Weight trends between Playboy bunnies & Miss America contestants

1-2 Differences in issues for people with eating disorders Stigmatization is easier, since eating issues are so evident to others. Childhood issues around food. Food = love Bad feelings? Eat it… A person cannot simply abstain from food. Depression correlates with overweight as there are low levels of serotonin in both. Foods that raise serotonin levels are craved- carbs, dairy, sweets that raise tryptophan. More fat cells contribute to craving, irritability; pressure to return to set point Very efficient metabolism, lower activity levels, genetics.

Obesity Early eating patterns set up overweight in adulthood. We learn family patterns of what to eat and how to use food (to medicate bad feelings, soothing.) Fast food, sugary drinks Sedentary habits- sports participation relates to being normal weight. Culture some groups stigmatize obesity more than others. African American girls have more problems with weight lower basal metabolic rate, less exercise, more time in front of TV long term effects are cardiovascular disease & diabetes

Disordered Eating AS teens develop & become dissatisfied with their bodies, they begin dieting (only ¼ of teens are happy with their size) Dieting sets up unhealthy attitudes toward food Poor body image, depression, alcohol/ substance abuse & poor relationships all relate to eating disorders Media & magazines show such skewed body images that reading fashion magazines can drop self esteem immediately Treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy & SSRIs The only way to overcome set point pressures is exercise

Causes of eating disorders Children who are trying to exert influence in overly controlling homes Symptom of other emotional problems- internalized distress Genetics contributes 50% in causation Upper & middle class women Social context matters- bulimia can be contagious in sororities All types show malfunction in serotonin system Number of fat cells- they don’t disappear when one loses weight- they put great pressure on the hypothalamus to re-establish their bulk when shrunk- the cause of the set point

1-3 Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder Binge Eating Disorder (BED) Most common eating disorder Compulsions around eating/ cravings Anorexia Self-imposed dieting/ loss of 25%+ weight, distorted perception of the body/ cessation of menstruation Bulimia Hidden binge eating of high fat/ sugared foods; loss of control of eating; gobbling Various means of purging intake: vomiting, laxatives, exercise, enemas

Anorexia nervosa Anorexics weigh less than 85% of normal have an intense fear of gaining weight have a distorted body image an obsessive quality to thinking Begins with a diet, then life stress. 10X more common in women, especially white, middle class, high achieving, image-conscious Fashion images are markers of acceptable looks 70% of anorexics recover, 10% die Achievement oriented females/ good students, athletes, perfectionists High levels of serotonin relates to anxiety/ obsessions Reduced eating reduces levels of tryptophan/ serotonin

Bulimia nervosa Binge and purge cycle to maintain weight. Look more normal than anorexics. Variety of techniques: Excessive exercise Laxatives Throwing up Diuretics More open to help/ found more often in Western societies 90% are women, as many as 10% of college women say they have had this problem. Men who have this problem are more disturbed, often gay or in sports that are weight measured- wrestling, jockeys Outgoing, adventurous, impulsive

Conditioned desire Like other addictions, when the person with food issues is around food & in a context for eating, increased dopamine activity occurs Reduced dopamine receptors relate to obesity (& heroin addiction) Orosensory pathways- increased brain activity related to oral sensations Lowered sensitivity to satiety cues (recognizing you are full) “Moreishness” factor- wanting more even when full

Whitney Houston’s transformation indicated her unresolved emotional issues as well as her addictions

Obesity around the world Developing countries are markets for food industries who promote cheap, sweet foods Mexico’s obesity rate went from 10% in 1989 to 71%F/ 66%M in 2006 Obesity is related to poverty

Sweet foods are calming Overeating does calm feelings of anger, low self-regard, loneliness, tension It also brings on sleep Being overweight heightens feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety, rejection Depression may be the result of overeating, not the cause Even babies will calm when given sweet bottles Heroin addicts will crave sweets when they can’t get a fix