If Santa really does stuff his face with every cookie he encounters after shimmying down those chimneys, that explains the big belly. But health and fitness expert Pam Peeke might say St. Nick's behavior also could be a sign of something commonly found south of the North Pole: food addiction.
Peppermint-bark pushers might sound significantly less nefarious than cocaine dealers, but they're offering folks the same surge of dopamine, Peeke explains in her new book, "The Hunger Fix." Peeke, an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of Maryland and founder of the Peeke Performance Center for Healthy Living, says that being hooked on food can be every bit as devastating as a drug addiction, and the only way to kick the habit is by undergoing detox and recovery.
For some, there's an array of trigger foods, or what Peeke calls "false fixes," that consume their thoughts - and get consumed in vast quantities. Inevitably, it's stuff that's fatty, salty or sugary (or a combination thereof), rather than a crisp, juicy apple.
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Peeke says a majority of Americans show some signs of struggling with food addiction, because of either a genetic predisposition or our modern-day environment that surrounds us with cues to constantly chow down.
When people argue that food addicts should simply use a little willpower, that shows a lack of understanding of the human noggin, and particularly the prefrontal cortex, explains Peeke. "It's the smarty-pants of the brain, and it reins in impulsivity. However, in full-on addictive mode, your prefrontal cortex is damaged," she says."
Not that Peeke considers this science an excuse to give in to addiction. But it means that unhealthful eating habits are something to take seriously, especially during the holiday season, when there's no escaping the cookie parties, office potlucks, family gatherings and other social engagements focused on food.
Although it's impossible to quit food cold turkey - without some very serious consequences - Peeke says you should try to lay off anything that you identify as a false fix.
What you don't eat, you can't overeat. And there are ways to substitute other foods so you don't feel deprived. "You have to experiment and figure out what you feel safest with," says Peeke, who offers the example of eating frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. Or, if you always want to devour an entire baguette, maybe switch to a whole-wheat pita, so you won't lose control.
The best way to tamp down these feelings and avoid grabbing something out of the fridge that you shouldn't? Exercise.
