Binge Eating Doesn't Cure Depression, It Causes It by Vidhi

All privileged people consume food in today’s world. It is a huge part of our lives and it is what keeps us alive. It gives us energy and the potential to perform tasks and overcome challenges. However, in today’s world, a lot of the food we ingest is extremely unhealthy and harmful. These foods are addictive and they have the power to weaken our bodies and be prone to more illnesses. Added sugars and fat in foods can lead to serious depression. This is especially true for teenagers because their bodies are developing at this stage of life.

Firstly, during teenage years you tend to become quite a fragile person. You worry a lot about what others think of you and there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. You have to manage a lot of stress because these years are the ones that matter the most. On the biological side, your body is also maturing and it is important for you to consume an appropriate amount of food for you to function throughout the day. Considering all the stress and changes in a teenager’s life, it is only normal that sometimes they lean towards emotional eating. Emotional eating is the process of “responding to stress by eating high-carbohydrate, high-calorie fat foods with low nutritional value” (medicinet.com). Therefore, minors are consuming food, but they are not of any value to the body. In fact, it only harms the body because they are ingesting unnecessary food. We tend to do this because high sugar / fat foods go into the brain's reward system. This means that your body feels the need to eat more because it feels like it is being rewarded and . Also, some people do not think depression as such a big deal, but it can lead to devastating results. It is described as a “serious mental health problem”. It can heavily affect your performance in school and leads to troubled relationships. You often feel lonely and helpless when you are in this state and that can be a very dangerous thing. Suicidal thoughts pass through your mind and harming yourself seems to be a solution during this time.

Scientists have discovered that fat harms the same part of your body as depression or stress. Artificial sugar leads to fat storage and can also result in diabetes. David A Kessler in “Your Food is Fooling you” compares sugar to cocaine. This indicates that it is very powerful, extremely addictive and can lead to overwhelming effects. But, we can’t take all of the blame for ourselves. Food companies also share a huge part in this controversy. Large companies spend a significant amount of time researching foods and its properties, to try and make it as irresistible as possible. They do this keeping in mind the profits they will be able to make with their large sales. One such scheme is that “binders” are added In some foods. Binders are processed ingredients that are added to make people chew less, therefore making them consume more food at a higher rate. Furthermore, since these foods disappear from our mouths so very quickly, people always lean towards more. This is how food companies function; they rely on the customers to fall for their trap.

Even though some people might say that it is better to relieve stress by eating, rather than doing drugs, it is not true. Drugs lead to heart diseases, blood flow problems and mental issues. Whereas, sugar also can lead obesity which can cause some cancers and high blood pressure. Eating unhealthy food prompts sicknesses and makes you feel drowsy, unworthy and ignoble, which leads you to being depressed. Consequently if you own a healthy diet, you are naturally prevented from a lot of diseases and disabilities. You are provided with more nutrition, and the food devoured is actually valuable to the body and helps it function. It will also reduce teenagers chances of getting depressed, because they will feel good about themselves physically and mentally. If your body is receiving the right nutrients, “it enhances your mood” (nerdwallet.com).

Depression is a huge problem in this society and thrives for more attention. Approximately 20 percent of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood. Food companies design their foods so that they trigger our minds in such a way that is irresistible. This further influences us to fall in their trap and that is when the emotional eating cycle starts. It is vital to stop this cycle, to ensure that teenagers around the world grow into a healthy, appreciated and contended beings.

Bibliography

"Why Stress Causes People to Overeat - Harvard Health." Harvard Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2016. <http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/why-stress-causes-people-to-overeat>.

Kessler, David A., Richie Chevat, and David A. Kessler. Your Food Is Fooling You: How Your Brain Is Hijacked by Sugar, Fat, and Salt. New York: Roaring Brook, 2012. Print.

"Emotional Eating Treatment, Causes & Triggers." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2016. <http://www.medicinenet.com/emotional_eating/article.htm>.

"The Strange Link Between Junk Food and Depression." Time. Time, n.d. Web. 12 June 2016. <http://time.com/3939974/sugar-junk-food-depression/>.