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How do our brain functions affect weight loss?
Many people have problems losing weight despite dieting or changing their diet. New research suggests that some brain functions play an important role in losing weight.
In their current research, McGill University scientists found that the brain plays a very important role in losing weight. People with greater activity in the brain regions of the lateral prefrontal cortex, which are associated with self-control, are most successful in losing weight. The doctors published the results of their study in the English-language journal "Cell Metabolism".
Self-control and self-control are important for weight loss
Controlling body weight in humans is largely dependent on areas of the brain that are involved in self-control and self-control. This area of the brain has the ability to take into account long-term information, such as the desire to be healthy to control immediate desires, the scientists explain.
Leptin and ghrelin affect the diet
Two hormones called leptin and ghrelin are known to cause the body to eat despite a diet. Previous research confirms that these hormone levels change rapidly as you lose weight. When people lose weight, a change in leptin and ghrelin can be observed. Some people cannot maintain self-regulation in the face of these signals for unknown reasons.
Subjects received a functional MRI examination
To analyze the role of these hormones and self-control in weight loss, the researchers examined 24 subjects in a weight loss clinic. Before a diet with 1200 kcal / day, all participants received a functional MRI examination (fMRI) of the brain, the scientists explain. The regions of the lateral prefrontal cortex, which are associated with self-control, and the regions of the ventral medial prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain that influences motivation and desire, were particularly assessed.
Subjects had to look at pictures of food
The subjects were shown pictures of appetizing food and control pictures of landscapes. The researchers then compared the response of brain activity to the food pictures, especially the high-calorie food pictures, at baseline, one month and then again three months later. When the participants looked at pictures of appetizing foods, the ventral medial prefrontal cortex area was more active in the functional MRI examination, the doctors say.
What did the experts find?
During the study, the researchers found that after one month and three months, the signal from the ventral prefrontal cortex decreased. It decreased the most in people who were more successful in losing weight. In addition, the lateral prefrontal cortex signal, which is involved in self-control, increased throughout the study, the scientists explain.
Self-control is the key to weight loss
In the functional MRI exam, the self-control area increased its activity and the desire area decreased its activity, the researchers explain. The amount of change was predictive of successful weight loss. While all participants lost weight, those who achieved the greatest weight loss had fMRI values, indicating a better ability to control themselves. At the end of the 3-month study, the hormones ghrelin and leptin began to return to baseline.
Does Cognitive Behavior Therapy Ease the Diet?
These results suggest that weight loss measures that increase self-control (such as cognitive behavior therapy) can be helpful, especially when stress leads to overeating, the study authors say. Stress disrupts the control mechanism of the lateral prefrontal cortex. (as)
