Sugar addiction: causes, risks, and effective treatment methods

Amidst the rapid changes in global dietary patterns, the term “sugar addiction” has emerged as a major health challenge. According to the Gulf Health Council, this concept refers to the fact that consuming large amounts of sugar can lead to biological and behavioral responses in the brain that mimic those caused by narcotics, making breaking this habit a matter of awareness and willpower.

How sugar works in the brain

Reliable scientific research shows that sugar consumption not only affects the sense of taste but also stimulates the brain's reward system. This process leads to the release of high levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and motivation. Over time, the brain becomes accustomed to these elevated levels, prompting the individual to crave more sugar to achieve the same sensation—a cycle remarkably similar to traditional addiction mechanisms.

General context and risk factors

Sugar is no longer just a sweetener; it has become a hidden ingredient in most processed foods, leading to unprecedented levels of global consumption. Several factors contribute to the risk of falling into this addiction, most notably:

• Genetic predisposition: Genes play a role in determining how much an individual prefers sweet tastes and how their body responds to high calories.
• The modern food environment: The widespread availability of low-cost processed foods rich in hidden sugars has led to a radical change in eating behaviors, making unhealthy choices the closest and easiest.
• Psychological factors: Emotional eating is a common response to stress and anxiety, with many people turning to sugars as a temporary mechanism to improve mood and raise energy levels.
• Sedentary lifestyle: With the decline in physical activity rates in the modern era, the effect of excess calories has become more harmful, as they are not burned and are turned into accumulated fat.

Prevention and treatment strategies

To break the cycle of sugar addiction, experts recommend a gradual and comprehensive approach based on lifestyle modifications:

1. Adherence to health organization recommendations: The World Health Organization advises reducing free sugars to less than 10% of total daily calories, and aiming for 5% to achieve additional health benefits.
2. Read labels intelligently: Beware of euphemisms for sugar such as (high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, and sucrose) that hide in finished products.
3. Healthy alternatives: Replace soft drinks and energy drinks with water or unsweetened natural juices, and rely on whole fruits instead of processed sweets.
4. Physical activity as a treatment: Regular exercise not only burns calories, but also regulates dopamine levels in the brain naturally, reducing cravings for sugar.

Understanding the nature of sugar addiction is the first step towards regaining control of public health and preventing chronic diseases associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes.