It turns out that when it comes to diet, both the low fat and the low carb crowd both have science on their side. A new study says that “a diet that is high in fat and in sugar actually switches on genes that ultimately cause our bodies to store too much fat” by activating our Kappa Opioid Receptors.The press release goes on to tell us that “Most immediately, this research provides more proof that high-fat and high-sugar diets should be avoided.”

As the name would suggest, opioid receptors are where opiates, drugs like heroin and morphine latch on to the central nervous system. Similar receptors respond to other drugs like Valium and cocaine which accounts for their remarkable effects on the brain. Kappa Opioid Receptors in particular “have very marked effects on all types of addiction including alcohol and opiate abuse.” If these receptors are involved in the process of fatty, sugary foods making us fat, it’s no wonder we have a hard time giving them up: we have turned into fat and sugar addicts getting high on food.

All this goes much further than just the calories we eat making us fat. Instead, the calories we eat compel use to eat more and store more and eat more again. That’s a big problem for people trying to break the cycle of diet and obesity. Overeater’s Anonymous has it right in the first of their 12 Steps, as it turns out with the wrong diet people may well become powerless over food.

With diabetes cases expected to double (again) in the next 25 years — particularly type 2 diabetes, largely caused by “Obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise” — this research is a critical step in getting the American diet under control.