Chronic stress drives craving for high-calorie 'comfort food'
According to a new study, long-term stress and comfort meals like high-calorie snacks might affect the brain in ways that may result in overeating, increased cravings for unhealthy foods, and eventually weight gain.
Researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research discovered that when continuous stress and high-calorie foods are combined, changes in the brain occur that increase appetite and sweet cravings. Their findings were published in the journal Neuron.
Researchers believe that over time, this can result in excessive weight gain and other health issues.
The research
“Our research has shown that persistent stress can cause people to eat more and more food, as well as to favor sweet, highly appetizing foods, which can lead to weight gain and obesity.”
The study’s researchers noted that persistent stress can interfere with the brain’s normal processing of satiety.
According to the researchers, this is because long-term stress disrupts the lateral habenula, a part of the brain that works to suppress reward impulses associated with eating.
When discussing the results, Professor Herzog stated, Our research shows that stress can override a brain reaction that normally reduces the enjoyment of eating, leaving the brain constantly rewarded for doing so.
He also emphasized how crucial it is to keep a good diet, particularly when under a lot of stress.
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Researchers used mouse models to examine how various brain regions respond to stress under various dietary routines in order to better comprehend these various eating habits.
The lateral habenula of stressed mice was discovered to be inactive, which interfered with reward signals and caused the animals to eat for pleasure rather than hunger.
Even when given the same meal, researchers discovered that stressed mice acquired.
Dr. Kenny Chi Kin lp, the professional researcher of the study, said, “We discovered that an area known as the lateral habenula, which is normally involved in switching off the brain’s reward response, was active in mice on a short-term, high-fat diet to protect the animal from overeating.”
He continued, “When mice were chronically stressed, this part of the brain remained silent – allowing the reward signals to stay active and encourage feeding for pleasure, no longer responding to satiety regulatory signals.”
Source PTI
