Obesity is an epidemic in this country, and it doesn’t appear to be “slowing down” any time soon. Yes, we have made efforts to make people more aware of the dangerous health-effects and ways to include healthy eating and exercise into our lives, but we still eat the full-of-fat food and make the excuse that it takes too much time to work out. Sometimes – in this fast-paced world – it seems like there is nothing we can do; we’re going to become overweight whether we like it or not. But recent research has actually shown that might actually be true. There are actually changes going on in the brain of someone who is struggling with obesity. Could it be that obesity is actually a brain disease, and there is nothing we can do to stop it?
In the brain, there are certain receptors that regulate appetite. Leptin and insulin are two neurotransmitters that either activate or inhibit these receptors. They both activate a certain receptor called POMC, which in turn inhibits another receptor called MCH. The inhibition of the MCH receptor ultimately suppresses appetite and says “I’m full.” Leptin and insulin also help inhibit another receptor called NPY. When NPY is NOT inhibited, it activates MCH and tells the body it is still hungry and needs to keep eating. Leptin and insulin help to prevent that. Sometimes though, there are mutations or deletions of the genes that regulate leptin, which can cause a person to be more likely to become overweight since the “full signal” never gets processed. In addition, in obesity, the brain physically changes. Some parts, like the hippocampus are smaller in size, and there is inflammation of the hypothalamus. That satisfaction from eating is also disrupted, and much like an addiction, those that are obese require more and more food to get that satisfied and full feeling, which eventually creates a vicious cycle. Other factors – like foods you eat when you are young and how much sleep you get – influence risk obesity as well. In addition to the usual health risks associated with being overweight, there also seems to be a correlation between weight and cognitive function. Those that are more overweight have less cognitive function than those at a healthy weight.
I, however, do not completely back the “obesity is a brain disease” idea. Although those that are genetically predisposed to becoming overweight will likely have more difficulties trying to maintain a healthy weight, I do believe that it is possible to overcome that predisposition. Although it may be extremely difficult to break that cycle in the brain that is very similar to addiction, it is possible. Just like a drug addict may spend years of his/her life trying to quit, it is possible for them to do so. The choices aren’t easy and there may be relapses, but in the end, it is something that person can achieve. I believe it is the same with obesity. Yes, the genetic components and how your parents raised you may start you off on the wrong foot, but ultimately you are making choices to eat that Big Mac or watch another hour of TV instead of going for a run. Your brain might make it more difficult to make the healthy choices, but it’s not that you have no free will. Now I’m not saying that the brain doesn’t have any effect. It is definitely harder for some people to lose weight than others, but we can’t point the finger at the brain and say obesity is entirely its fault. Our decisions on what food we eat, how much we exercise, and how we raise our children all play important roles in this huge battle that America faces.
Obesity: Can We Blame It on the Brain?
