Obesity from the brain

Finnish scientists have found new evidence that the role of the brain in obesity and weight gain, according to Top News.

Although obesity is usually simply caused by excessive energy absorption, it is unclear why some people are more likely to overeat and gain weight.

Because the central nervous system is closely related to the processing of hunger signals and controlling the amount of food consumed, it is assumed that the cause of weight gain and obesity may be in the brain.

In a new study, experts at Turku University and Aalto University measured active brain circuits involved in handling excitement (reward or nervous system consolidation) in many ways. Brain imaging diagnosis method.

Subjects of the study are those who are obese and healthy, slender people to control. The glucose metabolism in their brains is measured by taking a positron emission tomography under the condition that the body is satisfied with the insulin signal.

The brain's response to food images is measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

The results showed that the glucose metabolism in the brain in obese people was significantly higher than those in the striatum region of the brain, which was associated with handling excitement.

In addition, the system reacts to the excitement of obese people who respond more strongly to food images, while reactions in the cortical region associated with cognitive control weaken.

'The results show that the brains of obese people may have consistently created a signal that promotes eating even when the body does not require more energy,' said Professor Lauri Nummenmaa of Turku University and the leader. research and judgment.

'Our findings clearly show the role of the brain in obesity and weight gain. It has many important implications for current obesity patterns as well as the development of treatments for pharmacological or psychological obesity , 'Nummenmaa said.

The research results have been published in PLoS ONE.