It's all in the head: How daily sugar and fat consumption change the brain

You probably rarely sit in front of the TV with an apple in the evening. Don't we all snack on crisps and chocolate instead of a healthy alternative? Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Cologne, in collaboration with Yale University, have investigated the influence of daily consumption of sweet and fatty foods on the brain. Their two-month study revealed that neurological processes can be influenced after just a short period of time.

This is how the study was conducted

The 57 participants in the study had a healthy body weight and were randomly divided into two groups: One was given a daily low-sugar and low-fat pudding, the other a high-sugar and high-fat pudding with the same calorie density. In both groups, brain activity was measured before and during the eight-week course. During these brain scans, the test subjects were given a type of milkshake
or just pure water into the mouth.

The measurements of the sugar pudding group showed a significantly stronger reaction to the milkshake: in particular, the dopaminergic system, the region in the brain responsible for motivation and reward, was activated by the dessert.

Within a very short time, the brain learnt to prefer precisely these foods through the regular consumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods - similar to an addiction. At the same time, the preference for low-fat and low-sugar, healthier foods decreased in this group.

Possible consequences

This rewiring of the reward circuit in the brain occurred even before the test subjects noticed any weight gain and is independent of any physical change. Nevertheless, it favours excessive calorie intake, which can lead to obesity or other diseases in the long term.

Have you ever found it particularly difficult to change your diet again after a long period of being unhealthy? The reason is that the brain first has to relearn to favour healthier foods. With this in mind: hang in there!