Obesity - As much a mental disease as physical disease?

[LinaJo76]

It's both a mental and physical problem. Just like eating disorders, they both mental and physical. It's how you perceive yourself and how you react mentally to food that makes you obese or underweight.

[lorilou]

[quote=DaBeez;9711919]

Originally Posted by lorilou

[color="Red"]

Wow. Just wow. I go spend a few days in Vegas and come back to many many rep points from this thread, and also many people attacking me for no reason. Your response (especially what is highlighted in red) is typical of someone with inability to participate in a discussion without feeling the need to attack others because of your own insecurities. I understand how you feel and I forgive you for how your reacted.

There is nothing "rude" about any of my comments (unlike your rude comments to me). I find that many of the negative/rude/attacking responses are not unlike how alcoholics or drug addicts react to people questioning them on why they continue with their harmful behavior. I think this is a valid topic and appreciate many of the insights of the posters here who are participating in this valid discussion without attacking others for their viewpoints and questions.

I will just pass over your first paragraph for a number of reasons...
however, in your second paragraph, I think you finally grasped what a number of people were trying to express in this thread. Many people who struggle with their weight B]do[/b] indeed have similar issues as other addicts: that's all we were trying to say! For some of us (not all), it's not simply a matter of "put down the donuts", as you stated/implied. Just like for an alcoholic, it's not so simple as "put down the bottle". You just have no idea what some people have endured in their lifetime, DaBeez, that brings them to that place...not all of us use food to cope, but some of us do. And so we get a bit defensive at times. So, yeah, maybe I got a little bit riled because your comments seemed so heartless...and that's why a number of people had the same reaction.
I forgive you, too.

[DennyCrane]

Originally Posted by Belinda_Cooperstone1

I think people who eat for whatever reason, whether it is emotional or stress etc, it has become a habit. At first when they are at a healthy weight, there is a life changing moment and they turn to food. So they form a habit which takes about 30 days to do. (so they say) Which if there is something very stressful in your life may not be fixed yet in that time, so you had 30 days to form a habit, so it is now a habit to grab some kind for comfort food to help with stress etc.

It is the same with booze, you start to drink, and find it allowed you to forget, so you continue to drink until it becomes a habit to forget. I believe a lot of "illnesses" are formed out of habit and not because of some medical issue. not all but some.

I went through a horrible relationship with my ex. I turned to food once it ended and gained 60lbs. Until one day I woke up when I grabbed a bag of chips when I was upset about something else. It dawned on me that this is what I did when the relationship ended. So I was aware of this and changed my habit. When I was upset and wanted chips I went for a walk.

Now I ice climb, rock climb, hike and I am back to doing yoga. So when I find I am upset about something I now still go for a walk. Another habit formed, a healthy one. I lost the 60lbs 8yrs ago

I've read that you can't eliminate habits. Instead, you have to replace them with new ones. I'm glad to hear you did just that. That was also how I got control of my bad eating habits. I knew I couldn't just break the habit without finding something else to take its place. When I ate, I did so out of depression, to deal with stress, or just out of boredom. Telling myself to not eat wasn't enough. Instead, I added exercise to my routine. In times of stress or depression, I workout. When I'm bored, I do something physical instead of reaching for food.