Brits junk food ‘addicts’ costing NHS £15bn

Addiction Economy Thought for Today - how blaming the individual for their addiction is endemic and perpetuates shame, stigma and entrenches the addiction. Here with food:

"Britain's obesity crisis is now so bad doctors are pushing for food addiction to be classed as dangerous as drink and drugs."

"Food addiction is characterised by six telltale signs: cravings and compulsions to consume; needing more and more; no control over the amount consumed; withdrawal symptoms when trying to cut down; continued use despite knowing behaviours are harmful and neglecting professional and social interaction to feed the habit."

Look at the wording here on how the individual is totally blamed for their addiction - having 'no control', 'despite knowing behaviours are harmful' and 'neglecting professionals and social interaction to feed the habit'.

There should be no shame attached to being addicted to products which are designed specifically to addict us using the most sophisticated knowledge of human biology, psychology and social dynamics and billions of £ focused on that very task.

The orchestration of our entire environment to make these products seem like something we want, even need, fundamentally takes away our agency, freedom of action and even some argue, they are taking away our freedom of thought.

As the 4 components of our Economic Model show:

1. Addictive Product Design works. The formulations of these products are designed to addict using knowledge of the biology of addiction. If our supermarkets are totally packed with these goods - how should we know better?

2. Predatory Marketing works.  The billions spent on advertising of these products is ubiquitous. Governments allow, even encourage it and we get the blame for eating them?!

3. Misinformation also, disappointingly, works. See yesterday's post and others on how food companies promote co-opt healthy eating messaging to promote their wares.

4. Undermining political action works. The food lobby of government is massive, successfully avoiding restrictions on on product design, advertising, availability and misinformation is a fundamental part of the model.

And we get the blame for being weak, not listening to health professionals and lacking in will power!

Got this via Dr Jen Unwin who is organising the International Food Addiction Consensus Conference in London on May 17th, we will be there!

Here if interested - sorry won't let me post for some reason.

From the Daily Express

10m Brits feared to be junk food addicts, costing the NHS £15b a year