Obesity, Deliveroo and the WHO (report)

"If eating didn't feel good we might not do it and this would have disastrous consequences for the human race. Therefore, the human body triggers the release of the feel good hormone dopamine when we eat. This then makes it more likely that we will continue to do it. From our first moments on earth this cycle of eating and comfort is established in the arms of our caregivers. However, the preoccupation with others being interested in what we are eating and how much also begins with people monitoring ounces consumed or minutes at the breast. One of the first things we can control is what to eat and how much but depending on how attuned our caregivers are will dictate whether we are allowed to develop our autonomy around eating and how used to feeling, hungry, comfortably sated, full or over full we are. It's no surprise that in a world where there can feel like such a lack of control that so many people seek to find that control through their diet either by over or undereating." "What we know is that when situations feel stressful, anxiety provoking or overwhelming that humans often seek to put a coping strategy in place. Coping strategies usually lead to either something physically changing, for example turning a tap off to stop a sink overflowing, or something chemically changing so that we don't notice the distress in the same way. Given that eating causes that flood of dopamine release then this can be where comfort or convenience eating can come in. People often respond to feelings of fatigue, exhaustion and stress by reaching for convenience foods and takeaways. When we learn to tune into our feelings and to make practical or physical changes to our lifestyle it can free us up to have a more mindful relationship with our food. This can be transformational."