Exercise and proper nutrition are key to substance abuse recovery because they help to restore physical and mental health significantly lessening the chance of relapse. Macro and micronutrient deficiencies can lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and low energy.
Additionally, studies have found that consumption of unhealthy fats and processed sugars activate the same pleasure centers as drugs and alcohol leading to, not only significant weight gain during recovery, but in many cases, leading to transferred addiction, when the original addiction to drugs and/or alcohol is replaced with food.
Weight gain during and after recovery is often poked fun at, but it’s actually a symptom of a much more serious serious issue that can compound the likelihood of relapse.