Mind Controls the Body

Ok ok ok, let me explain just a little bit briefly before I continue. I promise you, this is an interesting read.

The physical ramifications of obesity we all know are bad. These range from but definitely not limited to…

• Increased risk of heart disease
• Increased risk of diabetes
• Increased risk to develop certain types of cancers
• Respiratory issues
• Cardiovascular issues
• Increased risk of liver damage (i.e. fatty liver)
• Back pains
• Infertility
• Sleep complications

You get the picture.

But the picture makes it look like all of these problems stems from obesity, which they do… and obesity is caused from physically having an imbalance of caloric intake and energy expenditure… which it is… so uhhh… why am I even begging the question… is it JUST a physical problem…?

Lets break it down like this. Food breaks down in our body for energy to use in either bodily functions or daily tasks; we ALL know that. The main thing that I’m focused on is how certain foods release that happy drug in our brain dopamine and serotonin.

Dopamine

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in your brain. It plays a role as a “reward center” and in many body functions, including memory, movement, motivation, mood, attention and more.

Serotonin

Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a neurotransmitter with an integral physiological role in the human body; it regulates various activities, including behavior, mood, memory, and gastrointestinal homeostasis

And both of these neurotransmitters feel like CRACK to the brain. These are the main things that… well… make you feel happy! However, this is where obesity comes into play.

Stress, depression, anxiety, boredom, loneliness, fear, peer pressure, social media, whatever it is, it’s something that we all go through in our life whether we caused it or not. In dire situations, a lot of us (especially myself) will go to ways of finding an out to your problem- a comfort from the madness. The sugar rush of your favorite candy sending tingles down your spine, the irresistible spikes of sodium on your taste buds, the satiation of fried foods as you pat your stomach a couple times knowing you ate like royalty, all bad things we know aren’t good for you, but we know we aren’t going to stop.

High caloric intake with low energy expenditure to compensate will primarily fill your stomach, but your mind isn’t off the craving. Each and every time a minor or major situation happens, you look for food to drown the negativity. Your body and especially your gut is pleading with you to stop, but your mind and soul are starving for a way to escape whatever you’re going through- no matter the damage, the sacrifice, the consequences in the future. Whatever it takes.

Alright so just rereading what I just typed- I’ll admit, that was a tad bit extreme, but you see what I’m talking about right? I severely doubt that the majority of the public (again, including myself) suffers from obesity in such a short amount of time (or even life long) from just eating and saying “Oh I just like food”; it has to be some underlying reason. Hell in some cases that after your initial stressor got resolved, now the obesity problem is what got you in a turmoil.

Though, just like any drug, getting out of this situation is exponentially easier than getting into than out of. This excellent video from Will Tennyson highlights every problem with obesity from the cycle of consumption, the humiliation and dehumanization, and even the struggle of escaping the situation you unintentionally put yourself in.

Food Is Complex

Ok so… then that’s it right? Morbid obesity is a mental problem that has physical consequences. Case closed?

Not even close

There’s a lot of physical and psychological science that goes into this, but one thing that I want to be talked about more are the “societal” complications that I believe are most important at addressing if we truly want to combat this problem as whole.

I live in Maryland, and Baltimore City is something I’m very familiar with. While I don’t live there, I’ve been there a lot, created memories there, and God is the food amazing.

However, food insecurity is a huge problem within the city. I did a whole presentation about this explaining it more in detail.

But there is one map I want to highlight the most that I believe contributes the most to obesity, especially in marginalized communities

The first map of this picture shows the ratio between grocery stores in Baltimore, to the location of small grocery and corner stores- which is a staggering 46/645, or for every 1 grocery store, there are 14 corner stores.

Now while corner stores aren’t necessarily bad, they often lack fresh produce and healthy options, but they make up for it in the huge advantage in pricing and being so close to residential areas. The food they provide are often snacks or ready to eat meals that are high in sodium, sugars, saturated fats, etc., which (as said earlier) severely contributes to weight gain and obesity. Which in all honesty, I don’t criticize those decisions.

I know, it’s contradictory to say that, but I used to (and still kinda do) live in a marginalized community where socioeconomic status is very low. The distance from where I am, to the nearest grocery store isn’t for miles and taking the bus to carry all those groceries is a hassle no matter how strong I try to be. Not to mention, money is extremely tight, so I can’t even think about affording food at said grocery store.

“I know a lot of people who can only afford watching people online cook recipes they dream of eating. I’ll just take the consequence of weight gain and health problems that come with it, although I’ve done nothing to deserve either of the burdens . I was simply unlucky being born in this situation I guess “- A quote one of my friends said a while ago

What Are You Even Trying To Say then?

My bottom line is that the only similarity that is shared are the results of being in the situation, not the cause of how you got there. Being obese is something that is very complex that shouldn’t have a generalized solution of “oh they’re just eating a lot, just balance your diet”. What if you can’t afford to balance your diet even with your current job? What if you’re susceptible or have a habit of being in situations of extreme stress where food is your main source of comfort? What if in your household your family can’t afford fresh or nutritional food and has to resort to low cost foods like pizza from Little Caesars? Not saying Little Caesars is bad, they’ve come in clutch a LOT in my day 😭.

I appreciate you reading to the end though, this was my first long post, and I hope it was interesting enough! I wanted to give my personal insights since I’m literally apart of this topic. So for those who are in the situation of dealing with obesity, but know they can manage it

Lasting Message:

Any drug you take is a short-term heaven escaping from the weight of life. But the side effects can cause a long-term hell. Recovering might feel like hell, but once you’ve reached the summit, that’s when you’ll experience true heaven.

And finally, whatever situation you’re going through, I hope it gets better. As a man speaking within the process, recovering is challenging, but an achievable and rewarding journey.

Sincerely,

Cravings & Comfort