• What is Alcoholism?

• Alcoholism is a primary chronic disease with genetic, psycho-social and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by continuous or periodic impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol despite adverse consequences and distortions of thinking, mostly denial. Let us look at this definition of alcoholism and see what aspects of it (if any) apply to obesity.
  
• In some cases obesity may be more genetic, in others more psycho-social and sometimes purely environmental, but certainly, obesity would fit the bill as far as this statement goes. And yes, obesity is often progressive and fatal. Most people, let alone those struggling with obesity, experience progressive weight gain over time. Sometimes periods of rapid weight gain are followed by periods of weight stability or even weight loss, but in the long term, no one with obesity would carry their excess weight had they not progressively gained it over time
• This may not seem as obvious as in the case of the alcoholic who dies of liver cirrhosis but when you start looking at the many ways in which obesity can kill you, from heart attacks to cancer, there is no doubt that obesity is fatal. Many of my patients would also be the first to admit that their weight problems stem directly from their continuous or periodic impaired control over their eating (or drinking of caloric beverages – including alcohol). This is not a moral judgement – whether their loss of control is genetic, psycho-social or simply a consequence of our obesogenic environment, it is still a loss of control. And of course many people who struggle with excess weight are preoccupied with their drug (food). Whether they are thinking about their next meal, trying to suppress their cravings, planning their diet, feeling guilty about their last binge, hoping to find the strength to say no to that dessert or second helping, or simply giving in and longing for the comfort and satisfaction that they get from eating – no doubt food is on their mind – one way or another. And all the obvious adverse consequences don’t seem to deter.
• Finally, is it not the profound distortion in thinking that keeps the commercial weight loss industry in business? The unrealistic expectation, that an hour in the gym each day will help melt away the lbs or skipping meals will help cut calories.
• But most of all I see denial to see excess weight as a problem, even when it clearly affects your health, your well-being, your appearance, your self-image, your sex life, your relationship, your happiness. The options are to either wait till the world changes or to step out of denial and seek the help you need to conquer those lbs. Many, if not all of us have accepted that alcoholism is a disease. Unfortunately, however, one important difference remains – in obesity, food abstinence is not an option

Read More on  http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/03/obesity-alcoholism.html