The brains of obese people may be wired more strongly to pleasant oral sensations associated with eating than those of thinner people, according to the results of a preliminary study.

The research leader, Dr Gene-jack Wang of Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York, said that obese people could be more sensitive to the rewarding processes of food. He surmised that that could explain why they overate.

Advertisement

The findings are to be published in the July 2nd issue of the journal NeuroReport, according to the research facility.

Brain scans reveal differences
The research team looked at brain scan of ten severely obese people who had skipped two meals. These were compared to brains scans of twenty lean people who also had not eaten for the same length of time.

Those who participated in the study ate nothing after dinnertime the day before the brain scan. When they arrived in the late afternoon, they were injected with glucose, which could be seen during the brain scan.

Initially no significant differences could be seen, according to the research, but on closer inspection it could be seen that the obese people had more activity in the part of the brain that is related to oral sensations.

This research could lead to the creation of a drug that could dull the senses associated with overeating. - (Source:NeuroReport 2002 July 2)

Rate this article Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent

JOBS

Civil Engineering Technician Gauteng - Johannesburg Staff Nurse Western Cape ICU Registered Nurse Western Cape Maternity Ward Nurse Western Cape Senior Financial Manager CA (SA) R600,000-650,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - Johannesburg Senior Financial Manager CA (SA) R600,000-650,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - Johannesburg Business Development Manager R400,000-550,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - East Rand Cost / Clinical Audit Clerk (Medical Aid) Western Cape Find more jobs Register your CV Post a job