Junk food fills Brits' emotional need
according to a new survey whose findings that may go some way
towards explaining the UK's high obesity rate.
The survey, commissioned by eating disorder specialist the Priory Group, found that over 11 million adults have issues or problems with food.
Sixty-three percent of adults said their self-esteem is affected when they feel overweight or out of shape it - yet paradoxically, for 52 percent the instant, feel-good fix lies in chocolate. Forty two percent said they might turn to biscuits, cakes and pastries, and the same number admitted seeing fatty snacks like crisps and nuts as the answer to their woes.
"These people are desperate to fill the void created by loneliness, low self-esteem, depression and insecurity. You could describe this as being 'hungry for love'," said Dr Peter Rowan, consultant psychiatrist at the Priory Hospital Roehampton.
"Sadly, this form of comfort eating is bad for them, leading to a range of physical illnesses associated with obesity and with the development of eating disorders, which can be a severe form of mental illness."
According to the Royal College of Physicians, one in five British adults is obese, and if the problem is not addressed the figure could rise to one in three by 2020.
The survey equates eating junk food to a form of self-medication because of the instant feelings of comfort and reward it delivers.
But it is anything but 'medicine'. Aside from junk food's weak nutritional profile and the fact it is generally laden with sugar, calories and trans- and saturated fats, in the long term overindulgence may lead to obesity, which has serious health consequences including increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.
According to Dr. Rowan, the erroneous British attitude to food has been ingrained since childhood:
"We learn from infancy and the gifts of our mothers to associate food with love. This lesson is not modified with time and the gift of food is used to reward us and for us to reward others throughout our lives."
The worst affected age group is the 15 to 24 year-old, 61 percent of whom comfort eat with chocolate and 43 percent with fast food.
This is particularly worrying as, as these people are entering their child-bearing years and unless the problem is addressed, are likely to pass on their attitudes to the next generation.
"If current trends are continued, eating behavior will become progressively more detached from food and health needs and the number of young people with eating disorders will continue to rise," he warned.
