Chapter 2 Food Fast-food Addiction 1 Itis no secret that the US is leading the world in its swelling obesity crisis. BN The nation is subsisting on a diet of high-calorie convenience food. [In fact, Americans have increased their spending on fast-food items from $6 billion to nearly $160 billion annually over te past four decades. [@ What may come as a shock, however, is the accumulation of evidence suggesting that the main ingredients in the typical “hamburger, fries, and a cola” are addictive compounds that keep customers lining up for their next fix 2 The key culprits are sugar and fat. EN Empirical studies reveal that the heavy dosage of these substances in today’s super-sized standard of a fast-food meal can trigger brain activity similar to that endured when a person is on hard drugs. HA representative individual serving at MeDonald’s or Burger King can dish out up to 2000 calories, including more than a cup of sugar and 84 grams of fat. @ Single-handedly, this meal- sized portion meets the full daily caloric requirement for the average woman. 11) Moreover, it exceeds the recommended daily allowances of both sugar and fat for any adult, regardless of gender. 3 Whereas heroin is an opiate, both sugar and fat stimulate endogenous opioids such as beta-endorphins in the hypothalamus, just above the brain stem. These naturally occurring painkillers activate the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, into a small cluster of cells located in the midbrain called the nucleus accumbens. BY Here, dopamine functions to elicit feelings of pleasure or euphoria. [3 What’s more, it motivates an individual to proactively repeat any action that originally fueled its production. f@ In the case of sugar and fat, purported addiction is a consequence of the body craving the release of dopamine inherent in their consumption. [Ed 4 To validate reports that fat and sugar behave in a drug-like fashion, researchers have conducted laboratory studies demonstrating that they induce classic addictive symptoms. For example, eliminating sugar from the nutritional regime of rats that are used to a primarily sweet diet produced anxiety symptomatic of heroin and nicotine withdrawal. I Moreover, increased tolerance to addictive food substances was noted. {@ In one experiment, tals were fed a chocolate drink containing a high ratio of both fat and sugar. Although the ‘animals were found to ingest increasing amounts of the potent liquid, their total production of resulting brain opiates was, in fact, diminished. This would suggest that the rodents had become progressively more tolerant to the effects of fat and sugar. Furthermore, itis likely they would subsequently require a greater quantity in order to achieve the same high. 5. Likewise in humans, brain-imaging scans of obese and non-obese persons illustrate that the heftier the individual, the fewer dopamine receptors are present. Researchers are ‘uncertain whether this is the basis or the outcome of obesity. However, itis clear that as ‘weight rises, individuals need to consume increasingly larger portions to experience a comparable euphoric effect. Reading Time: ___ minutes, __ seconds 484 words/# of minutes = words per minute 54 Second Reading While reading, predict the meanings of all highlighted reference words. Draw an arrow from each highlighted reference word or phrase to its referent—the word it refers to. Compare predictions with a partner. 762R8 Test Questions Chapter 2 Food What are the steps for answering Reference and Insert Text questions? Your instructor will write these steps on the board. 1. According to paragraph I, its refers to a) crisis b) secret ©) US d) world 2. Look at the four squares m in paragraph 17. that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Furthermore, the characteristic teen packs on the pounds during a biweekly visit to the nearest fast-food diner. ‘Where would the sentence best fit? a) 8, b) ° @) 3. According to paragraph 2, these substances refers (0 9 a) empirical studies b) heavy dosage ©) key culprits 4) sugar and fat 4, According to paragraph 2, that refers to 5 a) brain activity b) fast-food meal ©) hard drugs 4d) super-sized standard 5. According to paragraph 2, this meal-sized portion refers to a) 2000 calories ) a cup of sugar and 84 grams of fat ©) a representative individual serving ) MeDonald’s or Burger King 6. Look at the four squares w in paragraph 2 ‘that indicate where the following sentence 11 could be added to the passage. ‘This heavy dosage is evident in an examination of typical servings various fast-food restaurants. ‘Where would the sentence best fit? a) b) °) a) According to paragraph 3, these naturally occurring painkillers refers to a) beta-endorphins b) endogenous opioids ©) hypothalamus ) sugar and fat According to paragraph 3, here refers to a) a neurotransmitter b) dopamine ) the midbrain d) the nucleus accumbens According to paragraph 3, its refers to a) action b) dopamine ©) euphoria d) individual Look at the four squares a in paragraph 3 that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. A second addictive effect stems from the production of another neurotransmitter, serotonin, which ats to soothe or calm the individual, hence the label comfort food. Where would the sentence best fit? a) b) °) a) According to paragraph 4, their refers to a) animals b) amounts ) fat and sugar 4) a high ratio 7Chapter 2 Food 12, According to paragraph 4, this refers to 14, Look at the four squares @ in paragraph. 4 that indicate where the following a) the fact that animals were found to sentence could be added to the passage. ingest increasing amounts of the Specifically, chattering teeth and potent liquid. shaking were the symptoms observed ») the fact that the rodents had become when sugar was cut out of their diet, progressively more tolerant to the Where would the sentence best fit? effects of fat and sugar. ©) the fat that although the animals a) ‘were found to injest increasing b) amounts of the potent liquid, their °) total production of brain opiates @) was, in fact, diminished. 4) the fact that their total production of brain opiates was, in fact, 15, According to paragraph 5, this refers to 1) brain-imaging scans of obese and ee non-obese persons 13. According to paragraph 4, a greater b) the fewer dopamine receptors quantity refers to are present ©) the heftier the individual a) brain opiates d) the heftier the individual, the fewer ) fat and sugar dopamine receptors are present ©) the potent liquid 4d) the rodents Score: /15 88 Academic Discussion 1. According to the reading, sugar and fat are addictive compounds. Are you more drawn to foods that contain sugar or fat than foods that do not? Why? How often do you eat convenience food such as chocolate bars, sodas, or chips? . Do you think you are addicted to fast food? Why or why not? . Do people in your country eat a lot of fast foods? Explain, Asa student, do you prefer to purchase fast food or cook wholesome meals? Why? . Aside from the food’s addictive qualities, can you provide any other reasons why people may choose to eat fast foods? What is the key reason in your opinion? Why do you think that the US in particular has a problem with fast food? Do you think that because of America’s extensive international influence, the rest of the ‘world will experience an obesity crisis like the one the US is currently experiencing? Why or why not? 9. Do you think fast foods and convenience foods should be banned in schools and on college and university campuses? Why or why not? 10. What does it mean to be addicted to someone or something? Is this a good or a bad ‘thing? 11, Do you have any type of addiction? For instance, are you addicted to shopping, video games, the Internet, exercise, a person, fast food, cigarettes, coffee, or cola? 12. Why do you think people become addicted to behaviors or substances? 3 4, 5, 6. 78