Research participants who felt inadequate socioeconomic resources ate more calories and showed increased hunger hormone levels. In contrast, a daily gratitude journal reduced desired portions of food among male participants.
A team of researchers identified a link between ghrelin and episodic memory, finding that blocking ghrelin signaling impaired rats' ability to remember specific events. The study also found that vagal ghrelin signaling influences feeding behavior, with animals eating more frequently but consuming smaller amounts at each meal.
Researchers found that electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve increases motivation to exert physical effort for food rewards, potentially providing a novel method to alter motivation. The study involved 81 hungry participants who underwent two sessions: one with vagus nerve stimulation and another with placebo stimulation.
Researchers found that intranasal insulin delivery improves performance on memory tasks and increases brain connectivity in adolescents with high BMI. The study suggests that obesity-related cognitive impairment can be reversed by intranasal insulin.
Researchers found that mice eating a high-fat diet who fasted every other day had reduced pancreatic fat and lower blood sugar levels. This suggests that intermittent fasting may be a therapeutic approach to prevent type 2 diabetes by reducing fat accumulation in the pancreas.
A new study found that exposure to blue light at night can raise blood sugar levels and increase sugar consumption in male rats. The researchers suggest limiting screen time at night or using apps and night mode features to mitigate this effect.
Researchers found that food activates the vagus nerve to stimulate hunger neurons, while alcohol suppresses their activity directly through the bloodstream. This divergence in neural pathways helps explain why food and alcohol have distinct effects on behavior and motivation.
A study led by Dr. Stephanie Kullmann found that exercise improves brain function in overweight and obese individuals by normalizing brain functions important for metabolism and increasing regional blood flow in areas of the brain dependent on dopamine. Participants also reported improvements in mood and executive function.
A study by Rutgers Brain Health Institute discovered that the hypothalamus' 'orexin' neurons play a key role in controlling food motivation. Orexin blockers have shown promise in reducing binge-like eating episodes, providing new hope for treatment options.
A novel drug, Metabocin, based on capsaicin has reversed damaging effects of high fat diet in mice, improving blood sugar, cholesterol levels, insulin response, and symptoms of fatty liver disease. Long-term use of the drug showed no adverse effects or weight regain.
A new study published in the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior found that individuals can improve their food choices by adopting a 'health-focused' mindset during meal planning. This approach triggers activity in the prefrontal cortex, linked to self-control and future meal planning.
New research reveals that gut hormones play a crucial role in addiction treatment, with ghrelin and GLP-1 analogs showing promise in reducing cravings. The study suggests that medications affecting these hormones could be repurposed to help manage drug craving and relapse.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Syracuse University have developed a compound that effectively controls hyperglycemia in animal trials without causing nausea and vomiting. The modified compound is less absorbed into brain regions that trigger these side effects, leading to vastly improved tolerance.
New research reveals how cannabis triggers hunger hormones and changes brain activity to stimulate appetite. The study's findings could lead to targeted treatments for severe appetite loss in various chronic illnesses, improving quality of life and recovery.
Researchers found that obese people tend to ignore future meal timings when selecting portion sizes, unlike lean individuals who generally do. This novel finding highlights the need for targeted interventions to promote future thinking in meal planning and may explain why being overweight is associated with irregular meal timings.
Patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery experience altered sweet taste preferences, with RYGB producing more pronounced effects than VSG. This phenomenon may help clinicians predict patient responses to different surgeries and inform treatment approaches for obesity.
Researchers have discovered that adding estrogen to brain regions helps regulate weight and glucose levels in rats with induced menopause. The finding suggests that the medial amygdala is crucial for metabolic health, making it a potential target for treatment.
Researchers found that mice fed a high-fat diet exhibit withdrawal-like stress responses when switched to a low-fat diet, with dopamine levels impacted by stress signals. Blocking these signals normalizes the dopamine system, preventing binge-eating when the high-fat diet is reintroduced.
A new study found that exercise training had a different impact on body weight control in male and female rats fed a high fat diet. Male rats who exercised ate less food and gained less weight compared to sedentary males, while exercising female rats did not reduce their food intake. The research team believes chronic exercise may be i...
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered a unique combination of hormone-based drugs that can produce enhanced weight loss in obese animals. The study found that cycling through different drug therapies over a month led to greater body weight loss compared to single-drug treatments.
A study found that restaurant placemats with healthier menu options encouraged kids to choose better food choices. Children exposed to the placemats were more likely to order healthier options like turkey sandwiches and peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
A brain pathway in the medial prefrontal cortex plays a critical role in restraining from food temptation, suggests a new study. The researchers found that individual neurons in this region become activated in response to both 'go' and 'stop' cues, enabling control over impulsive eating behavior.
A new MRI technique has provided insight into how the brain responds to a full stomach and changes in hunger levels when consuming more or less water. Researchers found that drinking more water can curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness in the short term.
Researchers found that a Western diet impairs the ability to inhibit memories of palatable foods, making it harder to resist treats even when full. This link between dietary habits and brain function could explain why some people develop persistent desires for snacks leading to obesity.
A study found that Hispanic children who receive a hands-off approach to eating from their parents are more likely to snack excessively, consuming over 40% of daily added sugars from snacks. The study suggests this may be particularly concerning for overweight and obese children with greater appetitive drives.
Researchers found that chronic high fat diet disturbs neural messages in rats by shifting gut bacteria populations. Manipulating the gut microbiome can reverse this effect, leading to less overeating and weight gain. Additionally, specific foods like blueberries may also target and improve the microbiota composition.
A new study by Michigan State University neuroscientist Alexander Johnson finds that obese mice are more likely to overeat in response to environmental cues due to altered brain responses. The study suggests a psychological and neurobiological account for why obese individuals may be vulnerable to food triggers.
Researchers found that brain networks mediating comfort food-induced stress relief differ between males and females, with unique effects in the female brain across the hormonal cycle. Female rats experienced reduced stress hormone response to a sweet sugar drink only during the proestrus/estrus stage.
Exposure to social-based messages promoting healthy eating increases consumption of fruit and vegetables, while reducing high-calorie snack consumption. The researchers found that a 'liking social norm' message had a powerful effect on food choices.
Researchers at York University and CAMH discovered a new link between the OXTR gene and binge eating behaviors. The study found that specific genetic variations contribute to overeating habits, suggesting oxytocin plays a role in regulating behavior.
A new study found that children's brains respond differently to high- and low-calorie foods based on their body weight. Children with more lean body mass had a greater brain response to high-calorie foods, while those with higher body fat had reduced activity in the brain when looking at healthier options.
Researchers found that obese adults have a heightened ability to imagine odors, particularly food and non-food smells, which may promote food cravings. This study's findings suggest the need for individualized approaches to identify factors contributing to weight gain.
Research finds that prenatal stress in rats can lead to faster weight loss and reduced hunger signals in offspring, resembling anorexia nervosa. Identifying a specific coping style, passive individuals from stressed mothers were more susceptible to anorexic behaviors, providing insight into potential treatment options.
A new study reveals that a mother's fat-rich diet during pregnancy increases her offspring's risk of combined alcohol and nicotine abuse in adolescence. The research found that rats exposed to a high-fat diet in utero were more likely to develop a greater vulnerability to excessive drug-seeking behavior.
A high-fat diet changes the populations of bacteria residing in the gut, altering signaling to the brain and leading to overeating. The study found that this shift can cause inflammation in brain regions responsible for feeding behavior, resulting in gut-brain miscommunication and obesity.
Research found that lower dopamine transporter binding correlates with stronger visual attention bias for food cues, detecting food pictures more quickly among neutral images. Higher dopamine activity was linked to increased food intake over a period of 7 days.
Research reveals maternal obesity alters offspring microflora composition, increasing firmicutes to bacteriodetes ratio and gastrointestinal permeability. This non-genetic factor may contribute to increased susceptibility to obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
Research conducted on adolescent rats reveals that daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages can impair learning and memory functions. The study found significant inflammation in the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory, suggesting potential long-term effects on cognitive function.
Research finds that children of parents who spend more time cooking at home tend to make healthier food choices when eating away from home. Parents' reported food preparation time is inversely associated with energy density in their children's diet.
Research reveals that starting a diet at a younger age predicts several negative health outcomes in adulthood, including extreme weight control behaviors and obesity. The study's findings emphasize the need for public health initiatives promoting wellness behaviors in girls from an early age.
A twin study found that brain appetite centers respond more to immediate nutritional needs than genetics and upbringing. The study used fMRI scans to compare identical twins' responses to high- and low-calorie foods, showing a greater response in the twin with lower blood glucose levels.
A study found that individuals low in satiety responsiveness are more likely to experience poor appetite control and overeat, particularly those with a preference for high-fat foods. Increasing almond consumption may help improve satiety responsiveness and increase control over food intake.
New research by academics at the University of Bristol's Nutrition and Behaviour Unit found that people factor in liquid calories when estimating a meal's satiating effect. The study, led by Professor Jeff Brunstrom, compared meals with calorific drinks to those served with water or snacks.
A maternal junk food diet during pregnancy changes the development of the opioid signalling pathway in the baby's brain, making them more likely to overconsume high-fat, high-sugar foods. This alteration can lead to negative metabolic outcomes and a lifelong risk of obesity.
Research suggests that mothers stressed during pregnancy, especially those with a passive stress coping style, are more likely to have obese offspring. This style is typically seen in introverted personality types, whereas proactive coping styles are more common in extroverts.
Research shows that sight, smell, and consumption of healthy food can help dieters reduce their food intake. Healthy foods associated with diets like salads and fruits remind dieters of their weight loss goals.
Research suggests that early-life stress exposure increases adulthood anxiety, hormonal stress responses, and a preference for comfort foods. These changes may be used as self-medication to alleviate anxiety symptoms.
Research suggests that fetal programming can shape feeding behavior and preferences, with newborns of undernourished mothers displaying stronger reactions to sweet tastes. This study found IUGR rat pups exhibit enhanced hedonic responses to sucrose compared to controls, potentially contributing to adult diseases.
Research found that aging elicits changes in taste preferences, with older animals preferring less sweet and umami tastes and more bitter tastes. Despite no differences in neural activity, these age-related changes were observed in behavioral studies.
A new study found that gastric bypass surgery changes the gut microbiota composition in rats, increasing beneficial bacteria and altering peptide release. This shift resembles prebiotic treatment effects, suggesting a potential link between postsurgical gut modulations and improved metabolic outcomes.