For individuals suffering from obesity, the news is not promising. Researchers from universities in the Netherlands and the U.S. have discovered that obesity can significantly alter two crucial brain systems, potentially causing harm.
The brain holds a pivotal role in the body’s domain. When obesity starts affecting it, the situation becomes alarming. This is why, back in 2013, the American Medical Association declared obesity a “disease.”
Researchers from Amsterdam University, Netherlands, found that obesity disrupts the brain’s chemical system responsible for signaling, “You’ve eaten enough; stop eating.” This disruption causes obese individuals to eat continuously without feeling full. Even if they manage to lose weight through willpower, their brain’s signaling system remains damaged, leading to eventual weight regain.
When a person is hungry, a brain area called the striatum sends chemical signals to encourage eating. Once food is consumed, the striatum stops signaling, and another brain area, the hypothalamus, releases dopamine, creating a feeling of satiety.
However, in obese individuals, the striatum keeps sending signals and the hypothalamus fails to release dopamine, leading to constant eating without the sensation of fullness. Obesity essentially turns a person into a food-consuming machine, increasing the risk of various diseases.
Dr. Asma Sadaf Farooqi, a prominent obesity researcher at the University of Cambridge, confirms the validity of these findings. She emphasizes the importance of eating in moderation to avoid obesity, a condition now recognized as highly dangerous due to its potential to damage the brain.
Deficiency in Reproductive Hormones
Meanwhile, researchers from an American university have found that obesity decreases the production of reproductive hormones. This may explain why some obese individuals, despite being young, struggle with infertility. The study, conducted on rats, suggests that the effects could be similar in humans.
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, fed a group of rats excessive amounts of food, leading to obesity. The analysis revealed that obesity not only destroys the satiety signaling system but also damages the reproductive hormone system. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which work together to produce reproductive hormones like testosterone in males and estrogen in females, become less effective. This results in reduced hormone production and potentially leads to infertility.
Given these findings, it’s crucial to eat mindfully and avoid foods that contribute to obesity. Maintaining a balanced diet is essential to prevent obesity and its associated risks, such as cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.