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Boulder, CO Gets Boulder in the Battle Against Big Food

In the heart of Boulder, CO, a new battle is brewing against the predatory practices of the food industry. This fight echoes the historic struggle against Big Tobacco, drawing alarming parallels between the two.

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Dr. Brenna Bray (PhD), Neuroscientist, Naturopathic Health Coach, and Mental Health educator, received NIH funding to research the impacts of predatory food practices on physical and mental health issues like obesity, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

The Rise of Big Food

Just as Big Tobacco once manipulated public perception and downplayed the dangers of smoking, Big Food has employed similar tactics. From the 1980s to the present day, these companies have created environments that promote unhealthy eating habits, leading to a surge in eating disorders.

"With tobacco, we were working on these treatments and [pharmacological interventions, like prescription medications to help reduce tobacco use] ... and we really didnt's start to see drops in [tobacco use] until we changed the tobacco envrionment. ...so [that] there's not as much marketing, there aren't as many triggers, it's not in your face, it's not in vending machines, it's not targeted to kids, it's more expensive," one binge eating disorder expert stated in Bray et al., 2022, addressing the deep parallels between the role of predatory tobacco industry practices and environments on tobacco use and similar practices and predatory food environments' impacts on disordered eating and eating disorders, as well as a variety of other health issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic issues, overweight, and obesity.
“With tobacco, we were working on these treatments and [pharmacological interventions, like prescription medications to help reduce tobacco use] … and we really didnt’s start to see drops in [tobacco use] until we changed the tobacco envrionment. …so [that] there’s not as much marketing, there aren’t as many triggers, it’s not in your face, it’s not in vending machines, it’s not targeted to kids, it’s more expensive,” one binge eating disorder expert stated in Dr. Bray’s federally funded research study (Bray et al., 2022), addressing the deep parallels between the role of predatory tobacco industry practices and environments on tobacco use and similar practices and predatory food environments’ impacts on disordered eating and eating disorders, as well as a variety of other health issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic issues, overweight, and obesity.

The Tactics of Deception

Big Food companies have used deceptive marketing, targeting vulnerable populations, especially children and teenagers. This mirrors the strategies used by tobacco companies in the 1960s-90s, which led to widespread addiction and health crises.

"...under-selling the challenge of our food environment and the foods that we're dealing with, especially [for those who] are under-resourced, [is] not giving people the full picture," one expert stated in Dr. Bray's ground breaking research publication (Bray et al., 2022).
“…under-selling the challenge of our food environment and the foods that we’re dealing with, especially [for those who] are under-resourced, [is] not giving people the full picture,” one expert stated in Dr. Bray’s ground breaking research publication (Bray et al., 2022).

The Impact on Public Health

The consequences of these practices are dire. Eating disorders have skyrocketed, much like tobacco addiction did decades ago. The parallels are clear: both industries have prioritized profits over public health, with devastating results.

"...[If you're] sitting down with a bowl of ice cream and a bowl of salad, you're dealing with fundamentally ... very different things from a reward [perspective] and even [from] a psychological profile. And so, it's not just that 'if you just tried hard enough, you'd just be able to sort this out very easily," one expert was quoted as saying in Dr. Bray's 2022 research publication on the impacts of predatory food practices and environments on disordered eating and subsequent mental and physical health issues, including eating disorders and obesity.
“…[If you’re] sitting down with a bowl of ice cream and a bowl of salad, you’re dealing with fundamentally … very different things from a reward [perspective] and even [from] a psychological profile. And so, it’s not just that ‘if you just tried hard enough, you’d just be able to sort this out very easily,” one expert was quoted as saying in Dr. Bray’s 2022 research publication on the impacts of predatory food practices and environments on disordered eating and subsequent mental and physical health issues, including eating disorders and obesity.

Research Findings

Recent research by Bray et al. (2022) highlights these parallels. Sections 3.8 and 4.1.8 of their study reveal how Big Food’s tactics resemble those of Big Tobacco, contributing to the rise of eating disorders. This research underscores the urgent need for regulatory action.

Dr. Brenna Bray (PhD), Neuroscientist, Naturopathic Health Coach, and Mental Health educator, received NIH funding to research the impacts of predatory food practices on physical and mental health issues like obesity, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
Dr. Brenna Bray (PhD), Neuroscientist, Naturopathic Health Coach, and Mental Health Educator, received NIH funding to research the impacts of predatory food practices on physical and mental health issues like obesity, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

The Interplay of Big Food and Big Tobacco

The intricate relationship between our food environment and public health has garnered increasing attention in recent years. One particularly revealing study by Bray et al. (2022) sheds light on the connections between binge eating disorders (BED) and the manipulative practices of the food industry, akin to the notorious tactics employed by tobacco companies.

Hyper-Engineered Foods

Bray et al. (2022) emphasize that the modern food environment has evolved dramatically. Today, we are inundated with hyper-engineered, processed foods designed to be incredibly rewarding. This manipulation is not unlike the strategies used by big tobacco, which engineered products to maximize addiction.

"To ignore the fact that the food enironment has changed and that we are all dealing with ... predatory [food] industry practices, but with very hyper-engineered, highly rewarding roods -- to not acknowledge that in any way is problematic, and I think not giving people the full picture of what they are dealing with," one expert stated in Dr. Bray's 2022 mixed-methods research study of experts perceptions on the impacts of food environments and practices on physical and mental health, including eating disorders, depression, anxiety, diabetes, cardiometabolic issues, overweight, and obesity (Bray et al., 2022).
“To ignore the fact that the food enironment has changed and that we are all dealing with … predatory [food] industry practices, but with very hyper-engineered, highly rewarding roods — to not acknowledge that in any way is problematic, and I think not giving people the full picture of what they are dealing with,” one expert stated in Dr. Bray’s 2022 mixed-methods research study of experts perceptions on the impacts of food environments and practices on physical and mental health, including eating disorders, depression, anxiety, diabetes, cardiometabolic issues, overweight, and obesity (Bray et al., 2022).

Psychological Impact

For individuals with BED, the psychological impact of these engineered foods can lead to feelings of failure and guilt. One participant in the study poignantly noted the importance of educating those struggling with BED about the nature of these foods, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of what they face in their eating experiences.

"If you're trying to use indiviual interventions [for binge eating, binge eating disorders, and obesity] to combat a truly oppressive food environment, that's a really tall order," one expert stated in Dr. Bray's federally funded 2022 research study and publication (Bray et al., 2022).
“If you’re trying to use indiviual interventions [for binge eating, binge eating disorders, and obesity] to combat a truly oppressive food environment, that’s a really tall order,” one expert stated in Dr. Bray’s federally funded 2022 research study and publication (Bray et al., 2022).

Different Responses

This perspective acknowledges that when someone sits down with a bowl of ice cream versus a bowl of salad, they are not just confronting different foods but fundamentally different psychological and physiological responses. The sensory and emotional rewards associated with processed foods can create a cycle of binge eating, much like the cycle of addiction fostered by tobacco products.

"...[If you're] sitting down with a bowl of ice cream and a bowl of salad, you're dealing with fundamentally ... very different things from a reward [perspective] and even [from] a psychological profile. And so, it's not just that 'if you just tried hard enough, you'd just be able to sort this out very easily," one expert was quoted as saying in Dr. Bray's 2022 research publication on the impacts of predatory food practices and environments on disordered eating and subsequent mental and physical health issues, including eating disorders and obesity.
“…[If you’re] sitting down with a bowl of ice cream and a bowl of salad, you’re dealing with fundamentally … very different things from a reward [perspective] and even [from] a psychological profile. And so, it’s not just that ‘if you just tried hard enough, you’d just be able to sort this out very easily,” one expert was quoted as saying in Dr. Bray’s 2022 research publication on the impacts of predatory food practices and environments on disordered eating and subsequent mental and physical health issues, including eating disorders and obesity (Bray et al., 2022).

Points of Controversy

Moreover, one participant highlighted a controversial topic in the field: the issue of food/eating addiction and the question of whether someone can become “addicted” to certain foods or eating behaviors. “This issue is quite complex,” Dr. Bray stated, “and certainly controversial in the field. In part, because the term “addiction” is not that tends to be used clinically.”

“On the research side of things,” Dr. Bray continues, “we know that the same parts of the brain that light up in substance users when they see drug parapharnalia or use their drug of choice — that become dysregulated with substance misuse, abuse, and “addiction” — also light up and become dysregulated in a large percentage of invidiuals with binge-type eating disorders like binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa,” Dr. Bray says, citing some of her work and that of her mentors (1, 2). “We also know that rodents can display the same hallmark behaviors around seeking and taking highly pallatble foods that they do with drug-seeking an taking, and we see those same behaviors mimiced in humans — in drug use and food consumption behaviors alike,” Dr. Bray states, citing the same research publications (1,2).

“…We also have some fantastic research produced by Ashley Gearhart, one of my postdoctoral mentors, in which she took the DSM diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder (now substance related and addictive disorders in the DSM-V) and changed the words “drug” and “drug use” to “food or eating” and “food or eating use” to develop the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and the YFAS 2.0. We know from her work that ~80% of folks with binge-type eating disorders met DSM diagnostic criteria for a substance-related addictive disorder (e.g., ‘an addiction’) to food or eating ,” Dr. Bray shares, pointing to the same publications (1, 2).

“…So I think we are making strides in bridging the gaps between research and clinical practice. We are starting to get to apoint where more clinicians are receiving education on these research findings. And this is part of why I am so passionate about teaching in Clinical Mental Health and Clinical Research Programs,” says Dr. Bray, who teaches in the Clnical Mental Health Counseling program at Naropa University, and in the Clinical Research MS program at the National University of Natural Medicine, while also teaching and directing at the NourishED Research Foudnation.

 

Dr. Brenna Bray (PhD), Neuroscientist, Naturopathic Health Coach, and Mental Health educator, received NIH funding to research the impacts of predatory food practices on physical and mental health issues like obesity, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

 

Dr. Brenna Bray (PhD), Neuroscientist, Naturopathic Health Coach, and Mental Health educator, received NIH funding to research the impacts of predatory food practices on physical and mental health issues like obesity, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

Listening to Narratives

An essential theme that emerged from Bray et al.’s research is the need to listen to and understand the narratives of individuals with BED. Three participants stressed the importance of acknowledging personal experiences and how these narratives can inform therapeutic practices. This approach mirrors the public health strategies employed against big tobacco, where understanding personal stories helped shape effective interventions.

A Call to Action

The NourishED Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofig organzation in Boulder, CO founded by neuroscientist and mental health advocate Dr. Brenna Bray (PhD), is at the forefront of this fight. The foundation is dedicated to exposing these predatory practices and advocating for healthier food environments.

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The NourishED Research Foundation (www.nourishedrfi.org) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization in Boulder, CO, founded and directed by Boulder local PhD neuroscience, mental health, psychology, naturopathic researcher, clinician, and educator, Brenna Bray, PhD. www.nourishedrfi.org/donate.

Moving Forward

As Boulder, CO, takes a stand against Big Food, it’s crucial for communities nationwide to join the fight. By raising awareness and pushing for change, we can protect future generations from the harmful effects of these industries.

"For all these environmental interventions [for tobacco use and now for eaitng disorders, binge eating, obesity...], if you can have a more optimal enviornment that encourages ... healthy eatig - where there's not as much temptation - that allows our indivdiual treatments [for eating disorders and obesity] to have a better chance for success," one expert stated in Dr. Bray's federally-funded 2022 research study (Bray et al., 2022; funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH)'s National Centers for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
“For all these environmental interventions [for tobacco use and now for eaitng disorders, binge eating, obesity…], if you can have a more optimal enviornment that encourages … healthy eatig – where there’s not as much temptation – that allows our indivdiual treatments [for eating disorders and obesity] to have a better chance for success,” one expert stated in Dr. Bray’s federally-funded 2022 research study (Bray et al., 2022; funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH)’s National Centers for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)).

Conclusion

The battle against Big Food is reminiscent of the fight against Big Tobacco. With continued research and advocacy, we can hope to see a future where public health triumphs over corporate greed.


About the Author

This article was written by Alyx Luck Barnett, ND (NourishED Research Foundation Chief of Operations (COO)).

Dr. Barnett is a dedicated mother, naturopathic doctor (ND), health care provider and consultant, and community health advocate who brings extensive experience in healthcare provision and consulting, business development and accounting, and community engagement to NRFi. She currently resides in Damascus Virginia, but has a deep love for the Colorado outdoors.

Dr. Barnett holds a Research Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A) in Marketing/Marketing Management, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nutrition Sciences. Her diverse educational background underpins her holistic approach to health and wellness.

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Photo Credits

The infographics and figures used in this article were created by Barbara Kalu. Ms. Kalu Directs the Research Outreach Team at the NourishED Research Foundation while also earning her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Johns Hopkins University.

 

The infographics and figures used in this article were created by Barbara Kalu. Ms. Kalu Directs the Research Outreach Team at the NourishED Research Foundation while also earning her MS in Clinical Mental Health at Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Brenna Bray, a local health and wellness coach, stress researcher, associate professor, and avid ultra-marathon mountain runner, holds PhDs in Biomedical Science, Neuroscience, and Complementary and Integrative Health. Her journey through an eating disorder fuels her dedication to coaching, merging personal experiences with scientific expertise. Through her practice, Bray empowers clients to access and harness their innate healing abilities and achieve remarkable health and wellness transformations. Committed to community engagement and holistic well-being, Dr. Bray shapes a brighter, healthier future for all. Learn more about Dr. Bray at www.brennabray.com.

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