Researchers from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital in Canada have proposed that higher-level brain functions play a crucial role in weight loss.
In a study involving 24 participants at a weight-loss clinic, those who achieved the greatest success in terms of weight loss exhibited higher activity in the brain regions of the lateral prefrontal cortex, which are associated with self-control.
According to Alain Dagher from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, “What we found is that in humans, the regulation of body weight largely depends on the areas of the brain involved in self-control and self-regulation.”
He further explained, “This specific brain region has the ability to consider long-term information, such as the desire for good health, in order to control immediate urges.”
Leptin and ghrelin are two hormones known to influence eating behavior during weight loss. Previous research has shown that these hormone levels change rapidly when weight is reduced.
Dagher stated, “Everyone who loses weight experiences these changes in leptin and ghrelin. It’s just that some individuals, for reasons we do not yet understand, are able to maintain their self-regulation despite these signals.”
To examine the roles of these hormones and self-control in achieving weight loss, the researchers studied 24 individuals from a weight-loss clinic. Before beginning a standard 1,200 kcal/day weight-loss diet, all participants underwent functional MRI (fMRI) scans of their brains, focusing on regions such as the lateral prefrontal cortex associated with self-regulation, and the ventral medial prefrontal cortex involved in motivation, desire, and value.
The participants were shown pictures of appetizing foods as well as control pictures of scenery. The researchers then compared the brain activity responses to the food pictures, particularly high-calorie food pictures, for each participant at baseline, one month, and three months.
Dagher explained, “When we show pictures of appetizing foods, the ventral medial prefrontal cortex area becomes more active on fMRI.”
During the study, the researchers observed that at one month and three months, the signal from the ventral prefrontal cortex decreased, with the most significant decline observed in individuals who were more successful at losing weight.
Additionally, the signal from the lateral prefrontal cortex, involved in self-control, increased throughout the study.
Dagher concluded, “In the fMRI scans, we observed increased activity in the self-control area and decreased activity in the value area.”
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