Latest news with #foodaddiction
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dad so big he couldn't go to bed for 3 years loses 8st after trip to dentist
A dad who weighed 25 stone and spent more than £5,000 a year on takeaways has revealed the mortifying moment that changed his life. Simon Furness says his food addiction became so bad he couldn't even walk to his bed and slept upright on his living room chair for three years. But his wake-up call finally came when a chair he was sitting on at the dentist snapped beneath him, leaving him feeling 'embarrassed and disgusted'. 'I got into a rut where I just gave up and I never went out the house or anything,' said Simon, 57. 'I didn't go to bed for three years - I was sleeping in my chair. I was depressed. All the money I had was all going on food, on takeaways. It was at least £20 a night, £100 a week. I would get them five times a week. They were so easy. READ MORE: New Marks and Spencer Outlet store opens with 50% off original prices READ MORE: Go in to this house and you'll be arrested 'Because I wasn't going out anywhere, I would sit in the chair and order off my phone to get them delivered. I was addicted to Chinese takeaways – I'd always have a special curry with special fried rice plus a big portion of chips. I'd probably have a starter too. Whenever I see old videos and pictures of myself, it repulses me.' At his heaviest, Simon tipped the scales at 25 stone and could fit into 5XL T-shirts. But it wasn't just his mental health that suffered. The 57 year old's unhealthy habits led to serious health issues, including type 2 diabetes and severe sleep apnea where he stopped breathing 104 times an hour. Alongside his five takeaways a week, his typical daily diet included half a loaf of bread alongside two large tins of soup, kebab meat, a 12in pizza and three packs of Haribo. But his much-needed reality check came during a routine visit to the dentist. Simon, from Marston, Northwich, said: 'I was sat in the waiting room and the chair I was sitting on collapsed. I trapped my finger – that was so embarrassing. It made me feel terrible. I was disgusted; I just felt so low. The doctor even put me on antidepressants. 'Doctors even said I had one of the worst sleep apnea cases they had ever seen. It all affected me that badly with my kids and grandkids – I was no good to them at all.' Simon says his unhealthy lifestyle finally changed when his wife joined a local slimming group, Beeweighed, and encouraged him to try it too. The former Morrison's truck loader said: 'I tried Slimming World, Weight Watchers, tried everything but just couldn't get on with it. 'With this one, for some reason, it just sunk in. Lynda, the owner, was so encouraging. The talks she gives are amazing and it really got through to me and opened my eyes. She's made me think about what I eat, before I eat it. 'It's just been a total diet change. I signed up in October 2024 and the rest is history.' Simon has gone on to lose eight stone – and reversed his sleep apnoea. Now weighing 17st 1lb, he hopes to reach his target weight of 16 stone soon. Simon said: 'Before, I couldn't move out of my chair. Now I go on days out with my seven grandkids – proper things like a grandad should do. I'm loving it. 'I know everyone needs a little treat every now and again – I do myself on a Friday. But in the past, I just ate whatever I wanted and I paid for it. It's brilliant. I've given away all my old clothes to the charity shop. I feel like a new person.'
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Six signs you have food addiction by a psychologist who had one herself
If a well-intentioned colleague brings in a homemade cake to celebrate a birthday, are you someone who can enjoy a slice then move on with your day? Or are you someone who, faced with the sight, scent and taste of the sugar-filled sponge, feels an uncontrollable urge to eat? First the cake, then a chocolate bar from the office vending machine, followed by a packet of biscuits stealthily consumed in the car on the way home. For decades Dr Jen Unwin, a clinical psychologist, battled this uncontrollable urge to eat – what she now identifies as a food addiction. When she was in her early 40s – at the start of a successful career in the NHS, happily married to David, a GP, and a mother to three young children – her food addiction was at its worse. Even the tiniest taste of cake or chocolate would set off uncontrollable cravings. She was overtaken by an irresistible urge to keep returning to the dessert table until she felt sick. The next day she would feel hopeless about ever controlling what she ate. There was simply no middle ground. Research shows there are six million adults in the UK facing a battle similar to Dr Unwin's: addicted to ultra-processed, sugary and carb-heavy foods and, as a result, putting themselves at risk of heart problems, Type 2 diabetes, mental health issues, high blood pressure and obesity. Dr Unwin believes that acknowledging her challenging relationship with food as an addiction was the first step in taking control of her eating. Now, she's completely cured and is campaigning for it to be internationally recognised as a substance use disorder and treated with the same seriousness as alcohol, smoking or drugs. She believes it's the hardest addiction to overcome. So how can we tell where a penchant for sweet treats ends and a serious food addiction begins? Dr Unwin highlights the key signs and says that there may be a problem if you resonate with three or more: The six signs you have a food addiction 1. Certain foods are impossible to resist 'You're thinking about a certain food and craving it so badly that you have a compulsion to eat it that feels impossible to resist,' Dr Unwin says. At the height of her addiction, when David and her children were out of the house, she often made a batch of cake mixture – butter, sugar and flour – and ate the entire thing raw. 'It sounds ridiculous now but I had such intense cravings for sweet, soft, sugary foods,' she explains. 2. You're always reaching for more cake 'If you start having a glass of wine with dinner every night, your tolerance builds and soon you'll need two glasses or three to feel the same level of tipsy,' Dr Unwin says. 'The same is true with food addiction. One slice of cake might have cut it in the beginning but now you need two or three or even half the cake to really get that dopamine hit.' She recalls her daughter's wedding, where she initially ate a small slice of cake at the reception, then spent the rest of the night returning to the dessert table until she felt sick. 3. Food is prioritised above all else A common factor in addiction, you begin to ignore what you once valued and prioritise food above socialising, hobbies, family time and even work. Often, Dr Unwin would leave the house and her family in secret to drive for 20 minutes to a cinema complex where she'd order a big tub of Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream with chocolate sauce. She'd go back to her car and eat the entire portion, feeling ashamed and elated at the same time, before returning home an hour later as if nothing had happened. 4. There are times when you can't stop yourself from eating 'You completely lose control,' Dr Unwin says. 'Perhaps you bought a packet of biscuits for your grandchildren and think you'll sit down with a cup of tea and eat one or two before they arrive. However, before you know it, you've lost control of the amount and eaten the entire pack.' 5. You get headaches and feel low when you stop eating sugar If you try to cut down on the sugary snacks and carbohydrates, do you suffer from withdrawal symptoms? 'These include headaches, migraines, gastrointestinal symptoms, low mood, anxiety, fatigue and brain fog,' Dr Unwin says. 'As people experience sugar withdrawal, they feel so bad that they just go back to eating it.' When Dr Unwin completely abstained from sugar, she experienced many of the above symptoms for eight days. However after working through that incredibly difficult period, she began feeling better than ever. 6. You know the food is damaging you – and you don't care 'This is the really defining one,' Dr Unwin says. 'It's continuing to eat these foods despite knowing they're damaging you and causing harm.' She references a patient with Type 2 diabetes who continues to binge on cake and sugar knowing how terrible it is for their blood sugar. 'They can't stop themselves. These people often know that the food is worse for them than the mental symptoms of cutting it out, but they're trapped in a cycle.' How to tackle a food addiction Visualise how life will be better once you manage to quit your 'drug foods'. These are likely to be ultra-processed and sugary foods that – as an addict – you are unlikely to have a healthy relationship with. Have an honest conversation with friends and family about the foods you struggle with and enlist their support in helping you resist them. Removing the 'drug foods' from your diet and home is key. These should be replaced with natural and nutritional whole foods. Remember that the longer you've not eaten those foods for, the easier it becomes. 'I've completely broken the habit which means those foods absolutely are not in my daily thoughts anymore,' Dr Unwin says. If you are on medication for diabetes or high blood pressure, consult your doctor before reducing the sugar and carbohydrates in your diet as medication dosage may need to be adjusted. If you're concerned you may have a food addiction or would like to learn more, Dr Unwin recommends joining a support group, like the Public Health Collaboration (PHC) in the UK or Sweet Sobriety in the US. The PHC runs a virtual lifestyle support group every Monday at 6pm where you can learn more about overcoming food addiction and maintaining good metabolic health. Meanwhile, Sweet Sobriety provides a range of virtual courses, resources and coaching sessions. Dr Jen Unwin's book, 'Fork in the Road', is a hopeful guide for identifying if you have a food addiction and what to do about it. Alongside other experts, she will be speaking at The International Food Addiction and Comorbidities Conference at the Royal College of General Practitioners, London, on September 4 and 5, where the latest research and clinical experience will be presented.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I recovered from booze & drug addiction then piled on 3 stone – Mounjaro was the only thing that helped
CAT Sims has opened up about turning to Mounjaro after quitting booze and drugs lead her turning to food and piling on three stones. Author and podcaster Cat, 43, from London, hailed the weight loss jab as 'rehab for food' and praised it for being a 'silver bullet.' 8 8 Cat has previously opened up about battling an alcoholic and drug addiction - but managed to kick the habit of having a bottle of wine a night and taking cocaine regularly. However, she then struggled with food. Speaking on the podcast, Made by Mammas, she candidly shared that she is 'all or nothing' and food is a 'big issue for her.' Cat, who is married to husband Jimmy and has two daughters, Billie and Bo, explained: 'I think actually that was probably my first addiction. 'But for me, I'm sure there are people who can balance who can moderate. I do not have that gene. 'I've recently started Mounjaro, I've recently started the weight loss jabs. 'I was three stone heavier than I was when I gave up booze. 'I think people think if you give up booze you're going to lose a little weight. 'I lost nothing. I just went straight into food and chocolate and sugar.' She then explained how Mounjaro has helped her 'food addiction', and said: 'For me it's like rehab for food addiction. 'You're locked down and while you're there you do all the work, so that when you come out of rehab you can do it on your own. 'And that's what Mounjaro is for me.' Cat shared how she feels like her food addiction is now gone thanks to the controversial weight loss jab. 8 8 8 She added: 'I have no cravings for the crappy food or the ultra processed stuff. 'It was always a difficult thing because with booze and alcohol I was always like I can just abstain, I don't have to have those things, but food, I can't just not eat. 'But now I think doing the work I'm doing while I'm on the injections has made me realise that I can abstain from the ultra processed stuff. 'There are side effects, as there are with any drug or medication or anything that you put into you that isn't naturally supposed to be, but for me, it's been a silver bullet in terms of helping me manage what is essentially a food addiction, you know, and also I'm perimenopausal.' 8 8 8 MOUNJARO TAKEOVER Mounjaro injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and are administered every seven days. They are also available to assist those who are clinically obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over). The drugs, which have been widely regarded as 'fat jabs', can be prescribed by a practitioner - such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber. But increasingly, we are seeing more and more people buying them through online pharmacies, without sufficient checks. Not only this, but recently, figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency revealed that fat jabs had been linked to 82 deaths across the UK. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I was addicted to food but now I'm a Mounjaro addict – trolls say my ‘organs are f***ed' but I had no side effects
A MUM-OF-TWO has revealed how her food addiction turned into becoming a Mounjaro addict instead. TikTok user Kharis kickstarted her fat jabs journey in January and had lost a staggering 2 stone by February. 3 3 3 After taking a break from Mounjaro - also regarded by some as the King Kong of weight loss jabs - Kharis decided to jump back on the medication in May. During this month, the young mother managed to shed another stone, proudly sharing the epic results in a recent video. To prove just how much weight and extra inches she had managed to burn off, Kharis uploaded a clip where she was wearing the same pyjama bottoms - but several months apart. Following the three-month course of injecting herself in the tummy, Kharis now boasts a noticeably more toned stomach area, with a defined waist. The mum - who said she used to be '' addicted to food '' - also claimed that she didn't suffer from any nasty side effects. Some of the most common side effects on Mounjaro include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation and indigestion, experts have warned. Kharis said: ''I've had non [none] at all luckily but my friend did get the nausea feeling but wasn't actually sick.'' Sharing the transformation on her page, the brunette beauty added that although she did join the gym, she's only popped inside for a workout twice. ''Need to start asap tho to try build some muscle,'' Kharis went on, claiming that before taking Mounjaro, she was ''classed as obese''. As well as using the medication, which is licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes, Kharis also stuck to a calorie deficit to achieve the enviable results. I LOVE my new 'Ozempic face' - it looks like I got jawline filler, I look 10 years younger AND I lost 60lbs ''POV: you were just a girl addicted to food but now you're just a girl addicted to Mounjaro,'' she said in the video. Viewers left divided The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ khar1sx, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up a whopping 285k views in just two days. Social media users were gobsmacked by Kharis' incredible weight loss and more than 140 viewers rushed to share their thoughts. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. One person said: ''That's amazing of just 3 month kharis.'' ''You look amazing! Well done,'' another chimed in. ''Wow, you smashed it girl. So happy for you,'' someone else added. But while many were praising the mum-of-two, not everyone was so supportive, as one critic warned: ''Have fun when your vital organs are f****d.'' Hitting back at the harsh comment - which has been liked by more than a dozen others - the mother said: ''I believe if used correctly Mounjaro is safe but each to their own.'' Be aware of the dangers Although many were impressed with Kharis' weight loss, those debating whether to start using Mounjaro should know that it can have fatal consequences. And experts and NHS medics have shared a stern warning about the dangers of taking such medications without a prescription. What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams acknowledged that Mounjaro, which could soon be rolled out on the NHS, can save the lives of people with 'life-threatening levels of obesity.' But despite this, the NHS advised people to 'never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you.' The NHS warned: "These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.' Mounjaro works by suppressing your appetite, making you feel fuller for longer. The injections, which are administered every seven days, are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes. They are also available to assist those who are clinically obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over). The drugs, which have been widely regarded as 'fat jabs', can be prescribed by a practitioner - such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber.
Fox News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Jelly Roll admits toughest part of losing weight after shedding nearly 200 pounds
Country music star Jelly Roll is no stranger to personal battles. The "Save Me" singer recently admitted the biggest challenge he faced during his weight-loss journey after he shed nearly 200 pounds. "Food, man," Jelly Roll told Fox News Digital at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday. For the country star, the weight loss wasn't just about his fitness, but a constant struggle with his relationship with food. "If you're really battling obesity, you got to start at the dinner table, man. The walking's great, all the other stuff's great, but you got to fight that addiction at the dinner table," he said. Jelly Roll has been consistent in his efforts to lose weight, confessing he was addicted to food in the same way that he was previously addicted to drugs. "The battle was with the food addiction, changing the way I've looked at food for the last 39 years," he told People magazine last year. "I've never had a healthy relationship with food, so that was the hard part. But once you get into that discipline and commitment, it's like an avalanche. Once that little snowball started rolling, it was on its way." WATCH: JELLY ROLL CONFESSES BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF LOSING WEIGHT In October 2024, the "Son of a Sinner" singer shared a video on Instagram, where his trainer noted that Jelly Roll had reached a major milestone in his weight-loss journey. "We just passed the halfway point of the tour, and Jelly's been crushing it," his trainer said. "We're either walking [around] the arena, playing basketball, boxing. He just surpassed his 100-pound weight loss." While at the 2025 ACM Awards, Jelly Roll also told Fox News Digital about how the country music community has changed his life. "I am struggling to walk around the carpet because I have built so many relationships in this genre," he said. "I mean, I'm hugging camera guys… I am looking at Cody Johnson… publishers… the Dallas station that gave me one of my first interviews ever on a radio station… I'm overwhelmed. I'm overwhelmed, to be honest." WATCH: JELLY ROLL ON HOW THE COUNTRY MUSIC COMMUNITY HAS CHANGED HIS LIFE "You know, I'll give you perspective… I'm talkin' too much, but it's the truth. I've stayed at the same hotel all three ACMs. And it has been interesting to just watch how much just staying at that hotel has changed for me… how many more friends come by," Jelly Roll said. "I remember last year, me and Jason Aldean pretty much became friends by staying next to each other and just hung out all night," he said. The 60th annual award show was streamed live on Amazon Prime Video from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Jelly Roll and wife Bunnie Xo posed for photos on the red carpet. Jelly Roll was in a Western-inspired suit, and his wife stunned in a brown and black lace floor-length gown. The country music star was nominated in several categories at this year's ACM Awards, including entertainer of the year, album of the year and male artist of the year.
