Interview

For my interview I first e-mailed three places that I felt would have experts in the Field I am writing about, but unfortunately none of them emailed me back. I then found Carol Ann Ryan who is the Dietary Supervisor at Heritage place. She gave kinda of brief answers but was an expert in dealing with people who she feels truly has food addiction.

1. Do you feel like food addiction is growing and becoming more common?

She said that yes she felt it was growing and becoming more common, "Its something that has always been there but is starting to become more recognized."

      2.    Do you think it is additives that make the foods so addictive?
She said that she doesn't believe its additives that are being put in to peoples food, " Its people's personalty that makes them addictive, they can get addicted to any food weather it was processed with additives or not."

      3.Is this something that can just be helped with a meal plan?
Yes she felt that it could be helped with a set meal plan and counseling, " but not cured, just helped"

      4.Would you compare it to some one addicted to drugs or is it not as strong?
Yes, she believed it to be just as strong, " Its like alcoholism or gambling, its a real addiction with its own problems."
       5.Do you actually believe that food addiction is a disorder or just will power?
Carol Ann believes that it is a disorder and should be treated like one, "Its an addiction not just will power."

       6.What would you say is a way for somebody with food addiction to get better?
She said that its very different for everyone, "Its really personal, its such a different plan for everyone I couldn't really give a general answer, people usually lose alot to work towards this addiction getting better."

       7.Is there a cure, can they ever really eat "normal" again?
She said " No there is no cure, its like any other addiction and you will struggle with it the rest of your life."
        8.Where do you think food addiction all started from, when and why did people start to believe we could really be addicted to food?
Carol Ann believes " Food addiction has been around a long time, its nothing new but people have now just started to recognize it."

       9.What causes food addiction, do you think it develops slowly over time unnoticed or is taken on by a tragic incident in life?
She said, " I definitely believe its something unnoticed, you start eating when your depressed and one day you try to stop and realize you just can't"

Interview Questions

I hope to be asking these questions to a professional who works with people who have have eating disorders.

1. Do you feel like food addiction is growing and becoming more common?
2. Do you think it is additives that make the foods so addictive?
3. Is this something that can just be helped with a meal plan?
4. Would you compare it to some one addicted to drugs or is it not as strong?
5. Do you actually believe that food addiction is a disorder or just will power?
6. What would you say is a way for somebody with food addiction to get better?
7. Is there a cure, can they ever really eat "normal" again?
8. Where do you think food addiction all started from, when and why did people start to believe we could really be addicted to food?
9. What causes food addiction, do you think it develops slowly over time unnoticed or is taken on by a tragic incident in life?

Annotated Bibliography(10)

Barnard, Neal D. "Breaking the Food Seduction." Good Medicine. Summer 2003: 10-12. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Nov 2011.

      This article helped to identify some of the reasons we may be addicted to food. Studies have shown that chocolate actually works inside your brain the same way that opiate drugs do. They had people take a drug called naloxone, an opiate-blocker that is used in emergency rooms for drug addicts to make sure they don't overdose. They then gave the people a tray filled with chocolate and found out it was no more exciting than dry bread crust. Cheese also seems to be very addictive because it is found a chemical is in milk (all animals) that is closely related to morphine. They said the chemical is produced in the bodies to help an infant bond to its mother. At a "Cheese Forum" they discussed ways to push people to eat more cheese and wants to find ways to push the cheese craving trigger.

Higgins, Jim. "He Didn't Want to Die So He Changed the Way He Lived--And Ate." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI). 28 Jul 2003: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Nov 2011.

      This article truly gives me an insight about somebody who was extremely obese and could not control their eating habits. He walks through the step by step progress of his recovery and what he felt like like. It talks about how he feels like its an addiction in the sense he can never go back to eating "normal" since he was never there. He feels that food addiction stops you from eating like normal people because you can't just have one doughnut because it wont be enough. Its like alcohol in the sense you can't have just one because you can't control yourself and he feels like he was never really cured.

Gionta, Daria. "Food Addiction." American Health. Jan./Feb. 1995: 52+. SIRS Issues Researcher.

Web. 21 Nov 2011

     This article talks about many symptoms of food addiction and what might cause some people to have food addiction. It talks about the feelings that many people feel before they binge eat and after they do. Normally before it happens they feel a sense of excitement and will eat until their stomach hurts so much they can't move. But soon after they feel guilty and ashamed of themselves for it. But it seems that as soon as their stomach can handle it they will consume more calories usually a whole days worth in 15 minutes, up to 2,000 to 3,000. It also states that food addiction is a progressive disease and slowly gets worse. They claim they don't know , "if binging is a manifestation of the person's unhappiness or if the unhappiness results from the effects of overeating."

Jameson, Marni. "After Gastric Bypass Surgery, New Addictions." Sun-Sentinel. 27 Jun 2011: A.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Nov 2011.

     This article talks about gastric bypass surgery and how it does not solve the problems of somebody addicted to food. After the surgery it seems one out of four turn to some other addiction that includes drugs or alcohol. Alcohol enters the small the intestine faster and so alcohol hits them harder. It seems that food addiction like most addictions needs therapy and time not just a quick fix or those addictive behaviors will turn to something else.

"Mindful Eating." Harvard Health Letter. 20 Jan 2011: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Nov 2011.

      This article is about some of the ways people with food addictions can help easing them. Some tips are taking 20 minutes to eat, so you have time to feel full before you just continue eating. Eat with your non dominate hand and take your time to eat and chew.Before eating ask yourself if your really hungry. Studies had shown that people who binge eat were able to do better when using some of these mindfully strategy's. This article wasn't the best but did give some ideas for a closing argument are some ways of solving the problem.

Fargen, Jessica. "Food Addiction Support Groups Growing in Popularity." Boston Herald (Boston, MA). 08 Aug 2010: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Nov 2011.

This article is about a group called faa which is food addiction anonymous. This is a group for people who have a food addiction and can come to a support group and go through a 12 step program. The group helps people control their eating and it is growing rapidly. Some people though don't believe you can really count food as an addiction since everybody eats but many argue that its like alcohol and it affects everybody differently.But they say that it is a disease just like obesity. It is something that many people say completely consumes their whole life and they can't take control.

Dailey, Kate. "Finding a Healthy Medium." Newsweek Web Exclusives. 06 May 2010: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Nov 2011.

      This article talks about if we consider anorexia and bulimia an eating disorder why don't we consider food addiction an eating disorder. It says the addiction could start at as a bad image of yourself and an attempt to get thin because of the pressures of society but it then consumes your life and you end eating to much because your depressed and then your depressed because of everything you have eaten. It shows that people who tend to diet not all of course but some seem to get so overwhelmed in it that it consumes. It also seems like people with food addiction need it to be recognized because they need more than just a meal plan but some therapy and ways to cope with cravings and binges.

Haddadin, Jim. "Fighting food addiction." Wicked Local n.d., n. pag. Print. <http://www.wickedlocal.com/arlington/features/x363495722/Fighting-food-addiction

      This article is about two Lady's who used a food addiction group to overcome their fears of food since both say they could not control their eating habits.They explain it as a group for people who have trouble eating when they need to stop. She says they put you on a good diet of three meals a day that starts out pretty basic but you can eventually add other foods in, you also get a sponsor to talk on the phone with if you need. She, like the man in another article i posted explains that she can't have sugar because a little bit or in moderation just isn't enough.

"Will Aguila, M.D.: Why Food Becomes Addictive." Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/will-aguila-md/food-addiction_b_1030632.html.

      This article gives the four characteristics of substance dependency, which is Persistence of use despite problems related to the use of the substance, Compulsive and repetitive use, Craving, and
Withdrawal. It also seems as though food addiction falls under each of those. The hard part about food addiction is we can't just stop eating like you can with drugs or alcohol.It also looks like any other addiction a food addition can be triggered by life changing event that is tragic. The author believes that it is not taken seriously because food is such an acceptably thing in society even overeating. Twenty years ago we had smoking and alcohol addiction high because it was more socially acceptable.

Of, Study. "What Is Food Addiction? - HealthyPlace." HealthyPlace.com - Trusted Mental Health Information and Support - HealthyPlace. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. <http://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/food-addiction/what-is-food-addiction/menu-id-54/>.This article brings up the fact that food does not just trigger the reward system in your brain but many other things because you do need food to live .It seems to think that food is not an addiction but just a craving that some people have more than others. I think in some sense food is addictive with all the additives we put in it but i wouldn't compare it to drugs since rugs we make our body need them and that's why we get withdrawals but food is something you were born to need so the withdrawals are natural and hunger pains or dizziness not anything we would actually call withdrawal.

Annotated Bibliography

Helliker, Kevin. "Food May Be Addicting for Some." Wall Street Journal. 05 Apr 2011: D.4. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Nov 2011.

      I liked this source because it showed some actually studies of the brain and what showing a milk shake does to the brain compared to someone who is not "addicted" to food. It also makes great points that drug addicts are usually harming themselves and it gets in the way of jobs and normal activity's. When somebody who could have a food addiction can go on living a much more normal life. It also talks about the brain using food as a reward because it is a natural survival instinct.

"Binge Eaters' Dopamine Levels Spike at Sight, Smell of Food." Brookhaven National Laboratory News Release. 28 Feb 2011: n.p. SIRS Government Reporter. Web. 14 Nov 2011.

In this article it also shows test that were done on obese binge eaters and non obese people with out eating disorders. The people had to fast for sixteen hours and were shown food that was their favorite and heated up. The dopamine levels in the brain of the obese binge eaters had spiked extremely high when the non binge eaters showed no release of dopamine which I found interesting since they had not eaten in sixteen hours. They showed that a drug addict has the same release of dopamine when there is a hint or sign of being able to use drugs soon or having them around.

Billhartz Gregorian, Cynthia. "Craving for Food Can Be Addicting." St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 17 Feb 2011: B.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Nov 2011.

I learned a lot from this article that I had not considered yet. Like high calorie foods with lots of sugar and fat can actually mess up your bran and make you much more susceptible to cravings. The question posed here is if you stay away from high calorie and foods with sugar and fat does your brain learn to live with out them and forget about them or think about it all the time since you made that food untouchable. It also brings up the point that addiction runs in family's and test have shown that people with parents who struggled with alcohol and drug addiction have a higher chance of struggling with food addiction.

Kirkey, Sharon. "Bacon and Cheesecake 'Alter Brain Like Heroin'." CanWest News Don Mills, Ontario, Canada. 31 Mar 2010: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Nov 2011.

      In this article I learned that it may be better for people who struggle with food addiction to limit their intake of "comfort" foods to a minimum since the more you have those foods the more you will be likely to crave them. It also mentions the rewire of the brain when you eat high calorie foods its the same effects a drug addict has. Studies prove that it seems to be beyond control when eating for somebody who is addicted to food.

Letter of Intent

        The topic I have decided on is food addiction. I want to research weather or not food is really addictive or is it all in our heads. I would like to narrow down weather McDonald's and other unhealthy food really put things in their food to make them addictive or weather we just can't stay away because it taste good. I plan to approach it by searching for any studies that are done on the ingredients and finding out exactly what all those list of ingredients are. I have narrowed down my topic from obesity to addictive foods so it is not such a broad topic. I hope to finding the true source in why Americans are having such a hard time losing weight even when we know how to. Is it a matter of addiction or mere will power?
     I' am interested in learning about this topic because of the growing numbers in obesity. I have family members and friends that I see are overweight and would like to lose it but surprisingly its not exercise that's the problem its being able to eat healthier and in moderation. I would really be interested in learning if it is so addictive then why does it have no affect on some people and others can't help themselves. I am really into exercise and healthy eating, somebody who reads all the food labels and have always been interested in obesity and what is really causing it so I hope to learn more about the foods we eat everyday. I have also thought about being a dietitian or in some way help people lose weight and eat healthier and so I would like a better look into why some people can not give up food.
      I would like to know  how long people have been questioning food additions and weather their is a problem here. I would like to know what food in specific people have the hardest time putting down more than others and why. I am hoping to get a better perspective about what people are going through who struggle with overeating and why it is so hard to use will power to eat healthier. I believe that yes food addiction is a very real possibility. I think it comes from all the added salt and preservatives,  not to mention fast foods. We eat so much food that we can't even pronounce the ingredients to and have no interest in finding out what its doing to our bodies and brain. I would like to know some of the plans people have about approaching food addiction and if we need to start paying a much closer look into it considering the child obesity rate has sky rocketed.

Logical Fallacie

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_817934a4-9ff0-11e0-a5d3-001cc4c002e0.html

This article committed the fallacies of ad populum. They go on saying that it seems right to kill the wolf population because  2/3 majority said that we need to. The ad populum fallacies says that because most people think something is right then it must be right. They seem to only mention the comments from the majority to prove that lots of people are for the wolf hunt and think the quota should be higher so you should to. The second fallacie they committed was post hoc. They said that if wolf population increases then elk herds will get smaller which may be true but they don't provide any facts that actually show or connect that's what is going to happen. I think the last fallacies I noticed in the paper was red herring. They go the whole time about the comments people made rather than really listing any facts as to why hunting wolves is ok.

Research Paper Brainstorming

1. Processed Foods

• How long have processed foods been around?
• What exactly are preservatives made of?
• Does it make it difficult for your body to break the foods?
• Are there any positive effects of processed foods?

    2.Building and designing your own house

• How much does it cost?
• What kind of materials do you need?
• What is the average time length?
• Can you continue to build in the winter?

   3.Benefits of Exercise

• How much healthier does it make you?
• What is better for you, weights or cardio?
• Does it really add any years to your life?
• What exactly is happening in someones body when they exercise vs someone who doesn't?

   4.Eating meat

• Were we really meant to eat meat?
• How healthy is it for us?
• Is somebody who eats meat as healthy as somebody who doesn't?
• Is there anything we can only get from meat?

   5.Dogs Evolution

• How long have dogs been domesticated?
• How did we come up with so many breeds?
• Do we have much evidence of the domestication of dogs?
• What breed is closest to wild?

   6.Factory Farming

   7. Learning to Grow a Garden

   8. Learning to Scuba Dive