Looking for a 'Hunger Fix'? Food Addicts Can Re-Train the Brain

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Sept. 24, 2012

"The new science now shows you actually increase the size of the brain, because you stimulate brain growth," she said, "It's called neurogenesis. Who doesn't want a bigger brain? I do."

"The second thing that happens is, when you do things like physical activity, you also induce changes in your genes, in your actual genes. It's a new science called epigenetics," she continued. "So what happens is if you actually have genes that-- place you at higher vulnerability for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer. When you do physical activity, you dampen down that. You deactivate a certain percentage of those genes."

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Tara Costa is in what Peeke calls "master recovery." Costa recently did something beyond her wildest imaginings -- she finished an ironman triathlon in Kona, Hawaii.

"No dream is impossible," she said. "Every day when I wake up I know that I'm going to be doing something that's going to build a bigger brain, going to run or ride a bike."

Costa said she will be a recovering food addict for the rest of her life, and while it is an uphill battle, just accepting her addiction is a victory.

"I wish I could be normal with it," she said. "I wish I could have one bite and be satisfied and that be it, but you know what, I have hope, I have hope that it will be OK."