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This article comes from the official account of Wechat: SF Chinese (ID:kexuejiaodian), author: SF

(photo Source: unsplash.com) in this age of information explosion, there are always voices telling us the "truth" about weight loss. For example, some people say, do not stay up late, stay up late will promote appetite, gain weight; some studies have found that after adulthood, the number of fat cells will not change, weight loss is nothing more than a change in the size of fat cells, too difficult; others believe that "turning grief into appetite" is the enemy of weight loss, to maintain a good mood. So which is right and which is wrong?

(by Mei Lin / tr. by Robert Taylor)

We have basically reached a consensus on the saying that "fat comes in from the mouth". If you want to lose weight, you must first keep your mouth shut and don't overeat. In the view of many of us, overeating is because of greed, and we have no self-control when we see good food. But, to our surprise, overeating has something to do with our brains.

Neurotransmitter is a kind of signal molecule produced by neurons, which can transmit nerve signals. MCH is a neurotransmitter related to awakening, appetite, metabolism and other activities. The brain circuits associated with MCH can regulate the impulsive behavior of animals in terms of appetite. (photo Source: pixabay.com) the study found that binge eaters had higher appetite and pleasure for high-calorie foods in negative emotions. In other words, our emotions can affect our appetite, and emotions are the external manifestation of neural activity. In 2019, a study published in the journal Nature communications found that special pathways to activate neurons that produce melanin-concentrated hormone (MCH) increased the probability of impulsive behavior, but had no effect on normal eating due to calorie demand or the desire to eat good food. In other words, the impulsive behavior of animals is regulated by brain circuits. Overeating is an impulsive behavior regulated by brain circuits.

However, this study was done on rats. What about people?

What are the brain circuits of binge-eaters? Scientists have found that the brain circuits of overeaters are similar to those of drug addicts and obsessive-compulsive disorder patients. The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine (Science Translational Medicine) on March 29, 2023.

Scientists at Stanford University in the United States recruited a number of local female volunteers. According to the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the scientists determined whether the volunteers had a psychological disorder of overeating, and then measured their brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The scientists found that the connection between the sensorimotor thalamus and the motor cortex was stronger in overeaters, while the connection between the sensorimotor thalamus and the anterior cingulate cortex was weaker. A similar situation exists in the brains of drug addicts and obsessive-compulsive disorder patients.

This is a magnetic resonance imaging of the human brain. In the picture, the red arrow refers to the part of the brain where the sensorimotor thalamus is located, which is related to the formation of habits; the green arrow refers to the location of the motor cortex, which participates in the decision-making of body movement; the yellow area is the anterior cingulate cortex, which is involved in mood regulation and habit formation. (photo Source: Geoff B Hall) how to "cure" overeating? Now that scientists have discovered the neuroscience of overeating. So based on this study, how to "cure" overeating?

Based on the above research, scientists have been able to determine that overeating is not driven by normal physical needs, such as eating to relieve hunger, but an extreme habitual behavior. Just like drug use and obsessive-compulsive disorder, the behavior is repeated continuously, regardless of whether the goal of the behavior is achieved or not. To some extent, overeating is out of personal control.

Similar to drug addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder, overeaters are not hungry, but eat for the sake of eating, a behavior they cannot control. This is a mental illness that needs treatment. (photo Source: pexels.com) with this understanding, it is easier for scientists to prescribe the right medicine. We already know that binge eaters have unique brain circuits in their brains. Then, scientists point out that if some "treatment" measures are taken for the sensorimotor thalamus, overeating may be "cured". For example, it is effective to increase the level of dopamine in the brain through drugs. Because studies have found that the less dopamine in the sensorimotor thalamus, the more common it is to overeat.

Of course, the current research on brain circuits in binge eaters is not perfect. This study is only aimed at women and is not comprehensive enough. Moreover, scientists have now only discovered the effect of brain circuits on overeating, but scientists do not know how.

References:

Https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi0318

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