As dangerous as this addiction is, however, recent studies suggest that it is actually much more frightening than it first seems. According to one notable study, human brain can release dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter linked with feelings enjoyment, when a person merely sees or smells certain foods[ii]. As such, people who may be sensibly avoiding foods that release serotonin and other chemicals (such as chocolate) may still be susceptible to a sight and smell-based addiction to unhealthy food.

Understanding this complex problem begins with understanding word addiction. Defining a clear-cut definition of addiction is in itself a challenge and a rather hotly debated pursuit at moment. Still, there is enough unity among credible social and biological scientists to say that a person who is powerless to stop an action is addicted[iii]. When applying this rather grave concept to eating, it becomes starkly clear that choosing an extra slice of pizza or bar of chocolate may be expression of a very serious addiction to unhealthy food.

Remarkably, unlike how addictions to things like alcohol, drugs, and sexual activity viewed biological and psychological illnesses, addiction to eating is often ignored or, at very least, diminished to be something that is based on willpower. The insulting advice of “just don’t eat it if you don’t want to get fat!” that some obese people actually hear from their doctors, relatives, or colleagues is one of most common manifestations of this often well-meaning, but potentially harmful, ignorance.

The bottom line fact – and one that more medical professionals are accepting based on scientific evidence – is that obesity and related eating disorders are often results of an addiction they are a serious health condition that must be approached methodologically like other diseases[iv].

While value of protein in diet has been accepted and promoted within athletic community, it has been less well disseminated within very large sedentary population. Currently making up about 25% of Americans[ii] – or 1 in every 4 people – sedentary people are defined as those who undertake less than half an hour of moderate physical activity per day[iii].

A key problem to solve, therefore, is that bulk of these sedentary Americans do not know that they are, or more likely are not, getting enough protein in their diet. This large group of sedentary people reflects myth that protein-rich nutrition is important only for athletes and those who are physically active. The Reference Daily Intake[1] amount for protein is 50 grams, and most sedentary people are not coming close to meeting this standard.

Next to water, protein is body’s most prevalent substance. Protein is essential building block for muscle and tissue, and vital for functioning of critical systems, such as digestion. Protein even helps regulate and control hormones and chemicals that influence mood and coping ability something that has an impact for all people, regardless of physical exercise regimen. In fact, in context of protein deficiency-related mood disorders, one may argue that a sedentary person on dangerous road to obesity might be psychologically better equipped to implement a disciplined (e.g. healthy) eating plan if, among other key factors, a complete protein diet exited from start.

Yet there is another related problem that is arguably more damaging. The little information that most Sedentary Americans are receiving about protein – snippets of facts here and there, mostly from marketers and advertisers – are often outright misleading. This is most clearly seen in world of fast food.

Many sedentary Americans who have some basic awareness of protein’s importance in diet believe, due largely to marketing campaigns, that fast food burgers are a “good source of protein”. Lost in this belief is fact that virtually all fast food burgers are almost thoroughly unhealthy choices that are high in saturated fat, calories, sodium, cholesterol, and list goes on.

In fact, a popular burger contains 52% of recommended daily value (DV) of fat, and over 500 calories, of which 60% are from fat[2]. These clearly unhealthy factors diminish nutritional value from burger’s 24 grams of protein.