Research indicated that after a large meal obese individuals reacted more hedonistically to a large, sweet, and fatty dessert, despite being full, whereas the more lean individuals didn't allow their hedonic system to take over, and instead their homeostatic system kicked into full gear and helped them overcome the desire to eat the dessert."When obese people see high-calorie foods, a widespread network of brain areas involved in reward, attention, emotion, memory and motor planning is activated, and all the areas talk to each other, making it hard for them to resist," says Susan Carnell, a research psychologist at the New York Obesity Research Center at Saint-Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital and Columbia University and one of the investigators. <----- The hedonic system takes over, even despite having just eaten to fullness.
"If you are of normal weight, your homeostatic mechanisms are functioning and controlling this region of the brain," says lead investigator Dana Small. "But in the overweight group, there is some sort of dysfunction in the homeostatic signal so that even though they weren't hungry, they were vulnerable to these external eating cues."
Sadly research also showed that individuals who were once obese, then lost the weight, still had this same issue of the hedonic system taking over. Might this be why it's so difficult to take off weight?
This article also talked about how obese individuals have a heightened sensitivity to food cues, but they may not necessarily eat more than lean individuals. The heightened sensitivity, however, may prompt them to think of food more often, and do more snacking.
Question: What are your thoughts on this?
Personally I know there have been times when I have seen something like chocolate cake after a large meal and I still want a piece (and sometimes have a piece), regardless of being full. I know I'm not obese, so what's the deal? I do believe I have really great self-control, so perhaps if I was obese it would be more difficult for me to pass up that piece of cake. Who knows. I'm sure the food marketing industries, after reading this research, are already starting to think of more ideas on how to lure in their customers (as if their iconic images on TV aren't already bad enough...).
Coming Up
Have a great weekend!
I think this can kind of show that food is similar to a drug for some people. I'm certainly not obese, but I know that when I overeat one meal, particularly if I overeat a couple consecutive meals, I have a more difficult time listening to my hunger cues and getting my body back on track. I think it's really just about being super conscious of what you're doing. Food is something that so many people struggle with, which shows just how addicting it can be.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post - I had never heard of this before! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I believe in these studies... i mean, it's kind of take off the responsibility from the people. that obese people are born to be obese because their body is made that way, so they have nothing to do about it. I don't know... that's just too easy to not take the responsibility of one own action. Needless to say that food industry will take advantage of this.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! I know that the more sugar I eat, the more I want, regardless of how full I am. I am not close to being overweight, but if I didn't make other choices, like working out, or choosing lighter options, I could be. I am definitely guilty of eating beyond fullness.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm the kind of person who will cut a piece of cake and save it for later. I had that overly full feeling of being bloated. It just doesn't work for me.
ReplyDeleteI would put myself in the homestatic group, but I think some of the hedonic behavior must be learned behavior. Small children rarely overeat, even sweets, but when they learn through example, they tend to develop that habit.
ReplyDeletethat is a really interesting article! It might help explain why some obese individuals overeat then? I love how research is coming out with all these new findings. I agree though, there have def. been times when I am stuffed but still eat a slice of cake/a cookie. Sometimes will power/full belly isn't enough.
ReplyDeleteInteresting reading! I also think for some it is just habit or just because it tastes good.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting study. For me, I think it's more an issue of being mindful. When I'm mindful, I won't eat the cake. Wasn't so mindful last night...
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Very interesting post. Although sometimes I know I don't have room for dessert, I will still go for it. It can be difficult to be mindful all the time for sure.
ReplyDeleteCake tastes good. There's always room in my belly for it.
ReplyDeletehow did you get my picture!!!! and where is my cake.....I definitely fall into that category, although I have gotten better, waiting till later to eat dessert, and usually I am too full....but sometimes I fail..sigh
ReplyDeleteAck, I have NO idea what to think about this. Because I've never been obese either, and I've never really been able to pass up extra delicious food after a big meal. Do you think perhaps having once starved myself before also leads me to the same effect as obesity?
ReplyDeleteinteresting article! i think that although, i'd fit into the homeostatic category, i still crave dessert after eating most of the time. i wonder what caveats in the research were present...
ReplyDeleteGreat post and tons of information! I'm not too sure what I think, because there are many times that I am full but I want my cake and ice cream. I think maybe those with a normal weight are more opt to control this area, but I wouldn't say that they don't face the same dilemma. Maybe it's just the fast that obese people give into that cake where thinner people are more opt to pass when they aren't craving it. . . I don't know! This is something really interesting and something I would love to research further.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling of wanting that piece of cake, especially late at night. I try to drink of glass of hot tea or water and see if I still want the dessert after. Other times, I just go for it! ;-)
ReplyDeleteGina, I'm soooo sorry that I've been absent for so long! Tons of apologies for taking so long to answer your wonderful and kind question, as well! :-) Zach and I have been engaged for a year and a half, but we aren't married yet... We're planning on getting married in May of next year! :-) We, much like y'all did, bought a house together first, then got engaged, and are now working on the wedding plans... :-) I love hearing about your house stories because they remind me of our "moving in" and "fixing up the house" memories! :-)
ReplyDeletep.s. This article is FASCINATING!
very interesting info! it seems like a lot of comments from people who arent obese (yourself included) tend to eat a big slice of cake when we are full just because we crave/desire it. but, maybe its the frequency where you see a real difference? i always love a sweet treat after dinner but i don't mind keeping it small. or, eating less dinner so that i have room in my belly for dessert!
ReplyDelete