Obesity is a complicated issue to address for a variety of reasons, not least of which is the psychological trauma of negative body image exacerbated by the damaging emphasis on certain physical traits across Western culture.
The pressure from society to maintain an “ideal” weight, in order to appease a set of rules put in place by an unhealthy standard, can cause stress, depression, and destructive mental disorders. On the other side of the extreme, for those who are truly obese, there are genuine health dangers attached – ranging from diabetes and orthopedic challenges to artery issues, heart conditions, stroke and certain types of cancer – making it a serious and costly disease.
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And obesity is quickly spreading, not just within the developed countries where it has become common in recent decades (afflicting nearly half of Americans), but around the world. According to the World Health Organization, incidence of obesity has tripled worldwide since 1975.
We are now seeing a spread of obesity in developing countries where people used to eat very healthy food – both because of the simple expansion of global prosperity, which is a good thing, and due to trade and commercial agreements that homogenize culture. And while the free market can be beneficial generally, an absence of regulation or guidance does not always favor public health. As one example, commercial deals with the United States have brought about an explosion in the availability of U.S.-style fast food in Mexico. The result is that many people there are transferring from the quite healthy diet that they used to enjoy to an unhealthy one dominated by fast food and snacks.
On the surface, these fast foods can be inexpensive to the consumer, and thus tempting financially; on a societal level, they lead to downstream health costs which make them a net negative, as individuals suffer poorer health and society generally subsidizes the consequences.
Part of the success of such foods relates to the taste: Manufacturers know how to make their product tempting, perfecting the combination of fat and sugar that our bodies tend to like, making the food potentially addictive.
And that is, ultimately, my point: Much of what our bodies are taught to crave is not necessarily the object of a conscious choice or rational thought or even self-aware desire. It is not necessarily about nourishment. It can be thought of as comparable to an addiction, giving us a good feeling while exacting a hidden, delayed, and devastating cost.
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How can we counter this?
One possibility is a massive awareness campaign. This is rarely effective in the short term – but in the long-term it can make a difference; an example is the current unpopularity of cigarettes with the younger generation in much of the West.
Another path relates to regulation and market manipulation – for example, the higher taxes that some countries impose on sugary drinks, or the subsidizing of healthy foods such as cucumbers. This may offend the capitalistically minded and it tends to be unpopular, but it can have an effect, especially among populations where there is elasticity of demand.
The third way is to attack the problem at the source, stop the compulsion to eat unhealthy foods, or the urge to continue eating even after the “full” sensation hits. This approach may be essential, because compulsive behavior rarely succumbs to self-persuasion and discipline. (Indeed, for those living with obesity, the surface solution of bariatric surgery often results in regaining the weight relatively quickly.)
Treatments for compulsive behavior vary from the hypnosis or psychotherapy to the use of psychedelics. The company of which I am CEO owns the rights to a non-hallucinogenic psychedelic compound called MEAI which we believe impedes the addictive tendency in humans – for alcohol or even cocaine. Most recently, it has shown promising signs of treating obesity. Essentially, it may create in the body a feeling of satiation.
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Recent experiments we have conducted on obese mice showed that those who were treated by MEAI ended up losing fat but not lean mass. That’s the optimal type of weight loss, and we plan to test it in human trials as well.
The issue of obesity is complicated, touching on a variety of societal and health concerns. We should make sure the treatment is not itself damaging. And we need to account for the fact that some people may have a higher inherent inclination – a genetic proclivity – for compulsive eating.
Critically, we must always be aware that while overeating, or eating unhealthy foods, can be a conscious choice, it can also result from other conditions like depression, financial insecurity or even genetics.
One thing is certain: The search for ever-greater human wellness demands alternative treatments. Humanity deserves it.
