Selfish brain theory, addictions and obesity
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Question
Hi Tanya,
I’ve read your opinion article and a commentary on it by Dr Peters. Could you please explain what’s the essence of your disagreement? The matter is, I like both Dr Peters’ theory and your article.
Thank you,
Ingrid
Answer
Hi Ingrid,
I assume you mean these two articles (free full text access):
Mine: Carbohydrate-biased control of energy metabolism: the darker side of the selfish brain
Dr Peters’: Does sugar addiction really cause obesity?
In my article, I discussed the reason why diet-induced obesity (caused by high content of both carbs and fats) is neuro-deteriorating while even higher in fat ketogenic diets are neuro-protective. I suggested several reasons: very limited capacities of carbohydrate depots for storing energy, higher abilities of carbs to cause addiction, as well as (within the frames of the Selfish Brain theory) greater discrepancies between natural and civilized diet habits for carbohydrates than for fats allowing environmental “push” of energy into the body. The last point was intended to somewhat add to the Selfish Brain theory, which concentrates mostly on the brain’s “pull” component of the energy supply chain.
Now, in fact, after we exchanged comments with Dr Peters, there doesn’t seem to be any disagreement left. My objection was to the statement that I claimed that there’s a causality link between carbohydrate addiction and obesity and I wrote about it in my comment. To read the comments, one is required to register so if you are not registered and don’t want to do this, here’s the essence:
Dr Peters, in his commentary article: “In conclusion, I don’t see any evidence supporting the view that carbohydrate addiction really causes obesity”
Me, in my comment on it: “I am not quite sure why this view is discussed in connection with my article since I nowhere mention causality between “sugar addiction” and obesity, it is simply outside my article’s scope”
Dr Peters, in his reply to my comment: Thank you for your clarification. After that I think that we have high level of agreement”
So, you can see that the issue is successfully resolved.
Tanya Zilberter
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