Addicted to food: Women and overeating

Getty Images for the Wall Street Journal

I came upon this article in the Wall Street Journal that I found incredibly fascinating and somewhat eye-opening.  The writer, Caitlin Moran, discusses binge-eating - not the occasional act of over-eating on, say, Thanksgiving - as a compulsion.  And compares it to the likes of more "glamorous" addictions, such as alcoholism and drug abuse.  While all addictions are compulsive, one can remain fully-functional post a food binge; whereas the alcohol/drug abuser becomes intoxicated and, likely, non-functional post a chug/snort/smoke/injection.  "Overeating is the addiction of choice of 'carers'...It's a way of screwing yourself up while still remaining fully functional, because you have to.  Fat people aren't indulging in the "luxury" of their addiction, making them useless, chaotic or a burden.  Instead, they are slowly self-destructing in a way that doesn't inconvenience anyone.  And that is why it's so often a woman's addiction of choice."

After I finished the article, I decided to read some of the 119-and-counting comments.  I was really surprised to see how many folks - mostly men - were completely unsympathetic and unable to see the connection between food-binging and a serious addiction.  But I'm especially curious to know what you took away from this article.  What are your thoughts on food-binging being considered as serious of an abuse/addiction as alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, etc.?  Do you find it legit, among the others, or is it just an excuse that those who are struggling/fat/obese make to shield their laziness and/or lack of care? 

I know where I stand...

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Until we eat again,

Lindsay, The Lunch Belle