Food, an addiction like the drug
If a friend confesses that he is addicted and attends group therapy, alcohol, drugs or gambling immediately come to mind. But almost nobody shuffles the possibility of be addicted to food. But nevertheless, Food addiction is an epidemic on which more and more studies are carried out at universities such as Yale, Texas Tech or the University of Michigan. They all come to the same conclusion: food affects the brain in a similar way to drugs.
Food, the addiction of the 21st century
In case the boom of "junk food" and fast food consumption were not enough, the increase in sedentary lifestyle and other factors such as the recent economic crisis, have triggered global obesity rates. Since the 1980s, global obesity has doubled: according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2014 almost two billion people were overweight and more than six hundred million were obese (42 million children under 5 were overweight or obese). The WHO says that every year obesity takes more lives than malnutrition (in particular, about 3 million deaths a year).
Although now the UK is in the lead, in 2012, Spain was the country that registered the highest obesity index in Europe. While only Italy consumes less junk food in the European Union than we do, sedentary lifestyles and the economic crisis (people spent less on food, buying more "cheap" foods and fewer fruits and vegetables) have caused that in recent years obesity among Spaniards has increased 9% in young people and 4% in adults.
Although it can not be considered a drug as such, countless studies show that food causes the brain to secrete certain substances and that there is an overabundance of dopamine (neurotransmitter that regulates the sensation of pleasure), in the same way that when we consume drugs like cocaine or heroin. In addition, these signs of "reward" cancel others such as feeling satisfied or full, which explains why we continue to eat even when we are not hungry. This phenomenon is greater in the case of foods rich in sugars, fat or salt.
In other words: the increase in the consumption of junk foods has caused an increase in food addiction. But, as the English would say, everything bad has a positive side. The fact that food creates addiction implies that we can use a well-known weapon among alcoholics and drug addicts: group therapies.
Group therapies: new hope for obesity
Some one flies over the cuco's nidus, patch Adams or 28 days they are just some of the dozens of films that have contributed to the image we have of group therapy. When we think of group therapies, the first thing that comes to mind are phrases like "Hello, my name is Gwen and I am a drug addict". And, although several of these scenes are among the most shocking or even fun of the history of cinema, the truth is that they have been somewhat disconnected from the reality of therapy.
Group therapy first appeared in the Congress of the American Psychiatric Association in 1932 in Philadelphia, and since then it has only grown. Currently not only used to combat all kinds of addictions, but is applied to treat psychological illnesses (such as depression) and other conflicts such as workplace harassment or the loss of a loved one. Even in the field of oncology, this therapy is gaining more and more followers.
Its application in nutrition has been a true revolution. Patricia Holguin, founder of Dieta Perfecta (treatment of food reeducation with a support group network), reminds us that "man is a social being by nature and we are made to share". When we face social taboos such as an addiction to drugs, alcohol or food, we can be embarrassed when we talk about it. The support group acts as a refuge, where they verbalize what they are feeling.
In addition, these therapies do not only work in adults. Elena Villa, specialist in clinical psychology, disorders in children and adolescents, informs us that "there are studies that point to a greater efficacy in group therapy to lose weight in case of childhood and childhood obesity". By sharing their experiences with children or young people in the same situation, patients normalize and stop feeling marginalized. It must be taken into account that with children or adolescents, it is important to approach the therapy jointly with nutritionists, pediatricians, etc. And in the case of minors, it will be necessary to work in parallel with the parents.
The success of group therapy among women
Participating in the group helps to set new goals, to find new ways of motivation (to listen to the contributions of others), and to give priority to the program at a time when daily stress relegates health to the background.Also, Patricia tells us, when you get involved with others and 'strip' them, "you'll be pulling yourself before you know it."
Although the participation in group therapies It is not mandatory to complete your treatment, ensures that "the success rate is higher in patients who participate in group therapies." In addition, this group therapy has greater success among women, who, more accustomed to share, being part of the group helps them achieve their goals. This 'support network', which is not limited to face-to-face meetings as it has an important virtual factor, diminishes or completely eliminates the feeling of suffering.
When mortality rates in patients suffering from diseases related to obesity (coronary heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer, among others) have skyrocketed, comprehensive treatments supported by group therapies such as Patricia Holguin's, provide a glimmer of hope in the fight against the greatest epidemic of the 21st century.
Marga Wesolowski
