Reply #164: I do not think there is any one reason for obesity.

[demgurl]

My reason is that I am a food addict. That is the hardest addiction to "break" since you can not break it, you must simply try to control it.

Try being addicted to food. Being a food addict is not just a quaint little term. It can mean as many varied things from binging (and possibly purging), taking food from the garbage when you put it there to try and stop yourself (and then eating said food from the garbage), it can be almost anything where the thought of food consumes you but you know you must eat since that is what "keeps you alive". It is awful and I would not wish it on anyone.

I did a post on this a while back and it would seem I am not the only food addict in the bunch. It has nothing to do with laziness or lack of self control - you would never say that about a crack addict or an alcoholic.

Being a food addict means struggling every single day and sometimes breaking down in tears because it is so hard. It is a struggle you must face at least three times a day and with each meal. It is a struggle you must face when people do not know you are an addict and they try to tempt you into eating food. I had this happen two weeks ago at a child's birthday party. They had pizza and offered me some. I told them I was on a diet but they kept insisting. I did fend them off with my husband's help. (thank goodness for him)

You can say what you want but until you have walked in someone else's shoes then you can not judge them. You do not know how much energy that single mom working two jobs has. And she can not go looking for information on something that is healthier or cheaper if she has no idea it is out there. We can not judge her for running out of food a week early and having to go to the food bank and accept what they have or go hungry.

You can't judge an addict if you do not know what they go through every single day. I envy other addicts who have quit - just because they can quit, but I must eat food every day of my life.

There can be many reasons for obesity and some include not caring enough to eat properly or a lack of information on how to eat a nutritional meal. Some people may not like beans, rice and cabbage. I do not like two of those item. I am a very picky eater and even gave up a free trip to Greece because I was not sure how many items they would have that I could eat. Some people eat because of stress or other conditions and it is cathartic. Those people sometimes do not even realize what they are doing. Others may eat because they are addicts.

I don't think any of us should rush to judgment on this issue.