Fat people may be overweight because their brains say ‘keep on eating’ even when they don’t need the calories
The results showed that morbidly obese subjects had a significantly higher glucose metabolism in the striatal region of the brain than lean participants.
This region is responsible for rewarding emotions and desires.
These findings are yet another step towards understanding how brain responses vary in people with weight problems.
Lead researcher Professor Lauri Nummenmaa from the University of Turku in Finland said: 'The results suggest that obese individuals' brains might constantly generate signals that promote eating even when the body would not require additional energy uptake.'
It is now hoped that the discovery will help develop more effective obesity intervention strategies.
Seriously why should we even get hungry if our bodies don't need the food. This may sound semi-eating disordered but sometimes I enjoy the freedom from hunger pain and appetite that light illness can bring. I often have in my imagination and have wonder is this what it is like for non-insulin resistance thin people where they can take or leave food for hours? Anyhow any of you fat people out there, as the hunger pains hit, or realize you can't go 12 hours without eating without feeling sick, think to yourselves, why does my stupid body WANT the food, if it's just going to pile on more fat?
But hey I agree with this commenter too...weird how people online are "smarter" then many of the "experts" who just hound us to death about our failed will-powers.
Strangely enough, folks. all human beings are INDIVIDUALS. We are not all the same sex, height and shoe size. And our metabolism rates vary too. The "eat too much, exercise too little" argument is the classic example of the "causal oversimplication" fallacy. The human body is a highly complex machine and many factors, some more than others, some known, some suspected and some unknown, all contribute to heart disease, cancer........ and obesity.The rest of the commenters just continue with their social programming zombie responses of all the fat people overeat because they are jerks, or something like that, that never makes any sense.
Hi 500,
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog, and think it's very interesting. Thanks for being an honest and courageous voice in the wilderness!
What do you think of this study? (Skip to the graphs, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v11/n7/full/oby2003120a.html)
To me, it shows that both "obese" binge eating and non-binge-eating women appear to be severely undereating breakfast and somewhat lunch, and that their patterns indicate that if both groups were to eat more breakfast and lunch (i.e. 1/3 of the day's normal caloric needs at each of 3 meals), they would eat significantly fewer kcals per day overall, without deprivation.
At least that's what I'm trying to do.
I met with an RD a number of years ago who gave me a normal calorie level (not dieting) for my body's needs, and with her help, I created a balanced and pleasing meal plan that helped me distribute kcals evenly over the day. My difficulty is in sitting down and eating as planned (food phobias leading to eating more at night.)
Your thoughts?
It's my attempt at a non-diet, non-deprivation approach, by "front-loading" calories in a balanced way, in the first 1/3 or 2/3 of the day (breakfast and lunch.)
Thanks again.
Hi Alice.
ReplyDeleteInteresting study, I think deprivation [you know all the people trying to skip meals to LOSE weight, supposedly] are being set up for failure. The dieting works this way too. Actually the hunger levels will increase HUGELY. During my poorest years, I did not have money for all meals and even I would eat more when finally I got ahold of some food and you are not looking for lettuce and cut up bell peppers but far heavier food in that. If someone does that everyday, the nighteating probably will take off like gangbusters. I knew women who wouldn't eat at work or barely anything like a thing of yogurt [usually tons of sugar setting themselves up for more hunger] and then go home and freefeed. I eat on a timed schedule. Some may find this odd, but it is the best thing for me and in me prevents panic attacks from sugar drops, and more stable sugars. I get ill if I skip meals or do not eat at normal times. I also fear weight gain, if I do not eat on a schedule. I know that sounds odd, but I've seen too much. I have the theory lately that one will lose more weight from high nutrition diet that is spread out in smaller amounts through the day-not free snacking but breakfast lunch dinner and one small afternoon snack. I think your approach is far better.
I call it having a Food Brain. I think of food more, I want food more, cravings come into my mind and they stay there. Food will preoccupy my thoughts though I'll fight hard to get my mind directed elsewhere. Even when I was a kid I realized that I did not want to care about food as much as I did. I have had to find my own ways to fight it. Eating an extremely simple whole foods diet with little variety is a big help. Keeping up with exercise helps as well. I deal with the food thoughts better today than I did years ago but it's been a long road and I'll never be able to completely change the way my brain works. I do my best.
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