Trading one harmful addiction for another is not the answer to a healthy lifestyle.
People who are overweight or obese have a special type of addiction. Food addicts wear their addiction on the outside. It's too easy for people to make assumptions about overweight and obese people based simply on the way they look. Extra abdominal fat tells others that you have a lifestyle to support it, like having an addiction to carbs and sweets.
It's not as easy to look at someone who is of average weight and see be able to tell what their issues are. Maybe they are OCD, an alcoholic or are addicted to pain killers. The difference is that their addictions are worn on their bodies like a badge of dishonor.
When losing weight becomes the battle of your life, it's easy to think that trading addiction might be the answer. Smokers often gain weight when they stop smoking. Should I start smoking to lose weight? People who smoke pot seem to have a higher metabolism. They are able to eat a lot and still maintain a low BMI and keep the weight off. Should I trade addictions so I can lose weight too?
The answer to losing weight is not to trade one addiction to another. Instead of trading your addiction for food for another unhealthy addiction, try swapping it for something healthier. Make exercise a part of your daily routine and use that to manage your stress when you would otherwise be reaching for food to sooth your emotions.
