Do you eat and you don’t lose weight? European – Dietetics – Articles |

European Obesity Day

The obesity epidemic is now a reality! More and more people every day struggle with a heavy burden that causes both physical and mental problems. Researchers are finding new links between extra kilos and health. Diabetes, cardiovascular, skeletal and digestive system diseases, increased risk of cancer, but also a greater tendency to emotional problems or depression. All of this meets in one word – obesity. No wonder that various institutions are trying to deal with the problem and find a way to reduce this epidemic. Hence established on May 22 European Day of Combating Obesity, which is to raise awareness of obesity prevention.

Most of us know the theory and know that you should only eat when you are hungry, avoid sweets and sugar, and not eat too much fat or snack. Unfortunately, however, most often snacking wins. It is this that is mainly responsible for the increasing body weight of the population. Therefore, scientists are trying to find the cause of the problem. Recent research brings them closer to this.

Neurony AGRP

Two independent teams of scientists have identified systems in the brain that can motivate animals, including humans, to eat without actually starving. The system of controlling appetite and eating behavior in humans is more complex than in mice, but research offers interesting clues as to why people overeat. 

A team from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute presented their results in Nature. He found that a cluster of cells called neuronami AGRP present in the hypothalamus, it sends unpleasant signals until it is turned off. The mice treated food as a ‘switch’, but also looking at a meal or even being in a place where they had previously found food.

We suspect that these neurons are a very old motivational system that compels animals to meet their physiological needs. Part of the motivation is looking for food to turn off these neurons.

Other neurons called SFO (subfornical organ) that control thirst. They send the body unpleasant signals that force it to reach for fluids. Only this silences them.

Researchers at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center came to the same conclusions. They also noticed that laboratory animals had when they were given ‘on’ AGRP neurons, whether by food or artificially, ate very greedily. Researchers monitored the behavior of genetically modified mice. Dr. Bradford Lowell, one of the authors of the study, indicates that these neurons sense low energy reserves, and then activate and release neurotransmitters that inhibit the brain’s satiety center. He adds:

Our results suggest that the therapeutic targeting of these cells may reduce both food consumption and the unpleasant feeling of hunger – and therefore may be effective in the treatment of obesity.

The test results were included in Nature Neuroscience. They become the basis for further observations and reflection on how to translate them into obesity therapy. Perhaps a new effective drug to fight obesity will soon be developed? Time will tell.

Main photo is from flickr.com