Celebrations and the Brain's Role in Obesity

Monday, 09 February 2009 10:14

A recent celebration for my birthday was filled with great fun, food, and gentle humor. After all, what would a birthday be without yummy cake and ribbing about getting older? In fact, I could find events to celebrate just about every day of my life. I enjoy sharing good times with family and friends. Celebrations are important life’s rituals.

Food is generally part of all celebrations. I can attest to that as my family is notorious for throwing big bashes for anniversaries, graduations, baptisms, birthdays, first communions, most holidays, and even funerals.

I recently questioned the reasons behind celebratory events that surround me because of some research presented about food and pleasure. It got me thinking.

This research was published in the Oct. 17 issue of Science and it detailed the brain’s role in obesity. Eric Stice of the Oregon Research Institute led the investigation. The study, in essence, said that obese people may get less satisfaction from food due to a blunted response in brain circuitry relating to pleasure. This group then overeats to make up for the decreased pleasure, particularly if that person carries a certain gene variant.

The gene referred to is called Taq1A1, which is related to dopamine signaling in the dorsal striatum of the brain.

The results pointed to the idea that future weight gain suggests that some people are overeating due to the fact that they experienced this diminished reward from eating.

Thus, “behavioral or pharmacologic interventions that remedy striatal hypofunctioning may assist in the prevention and treatment of this pernicious health problem," the authors conclude.

This study is fascinating as it adds one more variable to the obesity problem faced by so many people. Could a drug be on the horizon to help improve the overall pleasure from eating? Perhaps, only time will tell. Also, are celebrations so abundant because we are constantly seeking increased pleasure, especially if food is involved? Interesting, huh?

Well, for me, nothing can take the place of celebrating life. Maybe food is a reward of some sort, but you know what? That’s okay. I love being around family and friends and enjoying the warmth that comes from these connections. And if food helps make it fun, so be it. And if the pharmaceutical companies produce a “pleasure pill” and it works, how great would that be?