Scientists have identified a potential cause of obesity, revealing that the brain may be the main antagonist in this health crisis.

A recent study has revealed how the brain processes sugar and fat, shedding light on how our eating habits are formed. Researchers focused on a part of the brain known as the hippocampus (HPC), which is recognized for its role in memory and navigation. In this area, they discovered two groups of neurons—one that responds to sugar and another that reacts to fat. These neurons not only help us remember where we found tasty food but also influence how much we eat, according to News Medical.

A new study published in the journal Nature Metabolism may aid in developing new strategies to combat overeating and obesity. To investigate how these neurons function, scientists fed mice sugar or fat directly into their stomachs while simultaneously measuring brain activity. They found that specific neurons in the HPC became highly active in response to sugar or fat.

This response depended on signals traveling through the vagus nerve, which connects the gut to the brain. When this nerve was cut, the neurons stopped responding to the nutrients. The team also confirmed that the neurons reacting to sugar are distinct from those responding to fat, indicating that the brain processes these two nutrients separately.

The study was extended to observe what would happen when these specific neurons were removed. When they were disabled, mice consumed half as much sugar as usual, while their fat intake remained unchanged. Conversely, when the neurons responding to fat were removed, mice ate 40% less fat but maintained normal sugar consumption. This suggests that the brain has separate systems for deciding how much sugar or fat to ingest.

Researchers also found that the neurons reacting to sugar play a crucial role in remembering its location, while the neurons responding to fat affect both memory and overall food motivation. The scientific work also demonstrated how they influence weight gain. Mice with disabled sugar-responsive neurons consumed less high-fat and high-sugar food and did not gain weight, whereas mice with normal neurons ate more and gained fat. Similarly, mice with disabled fat-responsive neurons consumed smaller portions of high-fat foods, helping them maintain their weight.

This research illustrates how our brain drives us to seek calorie-rich foods like sugar and fat, which was advantageous for survival in the past but can lead to problems in the modern world, where such products are ubiquitous, according to Guillaume de Lartigue, adjunct assistant professor of neurology and study author. The findings may assist scientists in developing methods to combat overeating by targeting specific areas of the brain associated with food cravings and memory. As of 2020, over 42% of adults in the United States suffered from obesity, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other health issues for millions.

Important! This article is based on the latest scientific and medical research and is consistent with it. The text is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice. For a diagnosis, please consult a physician.