Researchers have shown a link between obesity and abnormal activity of dopamine. The release of dopamine in this system is associated with euphoria and is considered a signature of important neurochemical addiction to drugs.
Pothos Emmanuel and his colleagues at Tufts University showed that among rodents brought to obesity, basic levels of dopamine were 50% lower and the release of dopamine was lower in case of stimulation that in rodents resistant to obesity.
Some previous research has shown that the consumption of food leads to an increase in the release of dopamine in the circuits responsible for the pleasure of eating, says Pothos.
Research has also shown that chronic deprivation of food, which leads to weight loss, leads to lower levels of dopamine. Therefore, eat more may represent a compensatory attempt to restore basic levels of dopamine.
The notion that a low level of dopamine leads to a greater awareness of food is consistent with previous research which showed that obese people had fewer receptors for dopamine, "he said. A lesser activity of dopamine may interfere with satiety and lead to suralimenter.
"Obesity has until now been approached mainly from the metabolic disorder rather than as an addictive disorder, and research has mainly focused on systems of the brain that control weight loss through balanced energy (calories absorbed and spent).
This research differs from this approach by focusing on the systems involved in pleasure. These systems can override those of the balance of energy and lead to binge and weight gain by altering the value of food, especially foods tasty and high energy, "said Pothos.
