Causes of overeating

It is a common belief that people eat because they lack energy, but this is not likely. Fasting experience shows this to not be true, in the first 3 to 7 days, after, possibly, but that is out of practical range. Hunger (the physical stomach felt) mostly disappears after the third day. Cravings and appetite are far different and are the mental and physical head felt drivers of eating, and are the primary physical reason we eat. These are caused by a host of issues; there is enough for a book there. For obese people, energy is not one of them, other than as a idea or thought driven habit to eat at meal times.

When I expressed the following: "Nutrition is the conglomeration of items: minerals, vitamins, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Statement like this are misleading by the use of the word “nutrition” when it is calorie intake that is the target, likely carbohydrates given the typical Asian diet. These people are often sub-clinical deficient in minerals, vitamins, and protein, but get excess sugars and starches and omega 6 oils. These peoples often suffer from “nutritional displacement”, too much low nutrition, high calorie sugars and starches, according to the Price Foundation."   Note that we obese frequently keep eating in a attempt to get enough vitamins and minerals, food addiction, emotional issues including stress, and spiritual, conceptual, habit issues (not physical or emotional). 

The comment I received back got me thinking of the common misconceptions of the common people in relation to weight loss diets, the issues of obesity, food industry, and related subjects (all from the view of the recovering grossly obese). 

Here what I received as a comment. "Scientists are very precise in their use of language. The fact that you’re focused on minimizing the amount of energy you take in while a maximizing the micronutrients (I assume; hope that’s not off base) doesn’t change the fact that the main reason people need to eat is for energy. For example, starvation is primarily defined by the amount of energy available to people through their diets. When I first heard the word “nutrition” used that way, I was surprised too. Then I realized that it makes perfect sense."

First, "Scientists are very precise in their use of language." This is a misconception: Scientists try to be very precise", except when there findings are not what they want: Just look at Ancel Keys six countries study, Scott Rubin-http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-medical-madoff-anesthestesiologist-faked-data ... fraud. Science is wrong a lot, internal estimates place it a 20 to 50% of the time. Papers often provide "prudent" recommendations that are not supported by the findings.

Next "doesn’t change the fact that the main reason people need to eat is for energy." (no fact there, rather a idea, a concept, a misconception) is not the primary reason any of my obese colleagues group or myself eat, or ever honestly admitted to. It is used as an explanation and as an excuse. It may apply to normal weight people, but not likely to the grossly obese, unless they have partitioning issues, which are rare.

Starvation is not a subject that I have any interest or knowledge. Honey badger attitude. No SGO6.