Book Review
Title: THE END OF OVEREATING — TAKING CONTROL OF THE INSATIABLE AMERICAN APPETITE
Author: David A. Kessler, MD
Devour it
→ Nibble till it’s gone
Spit it out
It seems strange, but according to Dr. Kessler, it took researchers a very long time to conclude that people were getting fatter over the years because they were eating too much. Our bodies used to be very good at regulating food intake to energy expenditure, but not so much anymore. Why?
This book has a little bit of science, some anecdotes, and lots of info presented in easy-to-digest (no pun intended) style. I found it fascinating, even though I’m not a fan of science-y stuff. I’ve always been too curious for my own good, though. I love seeing the whys and the wherefores in the world. As long as it doesn’t require my brain to work too hard.
I loved learning exactly what happens when we eat Doritos (or whatever our kryptonite is) and why it’s irresistible to us.
I also learned a new word that merits pondering — “eatertainment.”
There are treatment theories and tips to alter behavior. Kessler advocates contradictory advice from the mainstream. Mostly you hear diet gurus say something like, “No food is off limits” or “There are no ‘good’ foods or ‘bad’ foods.” But Kessler says that to change our eating behavior — our conditioned responses to certain foods we crave — we need to “view the pursuit of sugar, fat and salt in a negative light.” He believes it’s no different from a smoker or alcoholic creating negative associations with ciggies or booze.
Definitely read this book if you feel out of control with your eating. You’ll begin to understand the science behind your difficulty in resisting certain foods and how to start gaining control over your cravings.
But if you read nothing else, read the chapters about The Food Industry with visits to Chili’s and Cinnabon. Oy vey.
As I read, I was proud that many ideas and techniques in the “Food Rehab” chapters were already in place in my Lazy Low Cal Lifestyle before I even read the book. Makes me feel smart.
Are you overwhelmed by your cravings? What are some strategies you use to resist cravings? What’s your food kryptonite?