Is food a drug?  Why do we crave certain foods?  Dr. David Kessler has a fascinating new book addressing the subject and answering some burning questions – The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite.

The former FDA commissioner under Presidents Bush and Clinton, Dr. Kessler is known for  for his efforts to investigate and regulate the tobacco industry.  While you might not remember Kessler’s name — you’re likely remember what he did: he’s the man who put the nail in the coffin of big tobacco with his accusation that cigarette makers intentionally manipulated nicotine content to make their products more addictive.

In this book,  Dr. Kessler finds some similarities in the food industry, which has combined and created foods in a way that taps into our brain circuitry to stimulates our desire for more. The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite educates readers in what they are doing subconsciously and empowers all of us to question, “Why do we crave certain foods?”

Once armed with the knowledge, it’s amazing how you’ll walk through the grocery store and see the companies practicing what the book preaches.

This book gives hope to chronic dieters who beat themselves up for gaining weight–Dr. Kessler’s message is to stop looking at just fat grams and calories….start reading the whole label!   He claims that fat, salt and sugar are in foods in precise combinations to solely get you hooked —and ultimately eat more of the product.

$15.57 at Amazon.com