This was fine when daily life required more physical activity and food was scarce, but now that the industrialized world is in a state of food saturation and most jobs involve a desk and a computer screen, the body’s natural impulse to consume and store calories has helped lead us to a 33 percent (and climbing) adult obesity rate as well as a high childhood obesity rate.

Break the cycle

Because the human brain is naturally disposed to consume, it takes a conscious effort on the part of the consumer to understand and override those food cues to maintain a healthy weight and diet.   

SLIDESHOW: 10 Ways to combat food addiction

 Frank explained that his patients who successfully lose and maintain weight loss do so by staying constantly aware how much they eat and when they must stop eating.

According to Dr. Frank, “A successful weight loss patient will learn how to manipulate eating events to jive with their brain signals and be hyper vigilant about food cues.”