Conventional views place both addiction and obesity as diseases. We understand the importance of medical classification of these developmental disorders/conditions. In order for people to get help we must play the 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 game and have something to code. But obesity, like addiction, is not a disease — but rather a pathological over-learning of behaviors. A disease would need to be a state where the brain could not return to normal functioning with avoidance of the behaviors. Which we have proven time and time again that neuroplacticity is possible, and 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴. In both circumstances, a person is merely engaging in maladaptive behaviors. Using substances and eating food elicit changes in brain chemistry no different from falling in love, having sex, or accomplishing a goal. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. Classifications of addictions and obesity as a disease state does nothing but 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 and 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦 the person. Calling addictions and obesity a disease has plagued the medical system and has roots in the fundamental misunderstanding of learning disorders. We are never going to make progress in helping these individuals overcome their faulty coping methods by labeling their behaviors as a disease. 𝗪𝐡𝐲? Because labels encourage a fixed mindset. A fixed mindset often prevents individuals from developing new skills and 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 in general, which sabotages health and happiness. While labeling these disorders as diseases is done with good intentions, it is only harming the patients long term success. The Biology of Desire & Unbroken Brain are excellent books on this topic: https://amzn.to/3cxJX7f https://amzn.to/2TrSh0I
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