After a tiring day or when you're short on time, the urge to grab something quick and tasty, like chips or a candy bar, can be overwhelming. These high-calorie foods with ultra-processed ingredients have long been linked to obesity. However, it's only recently that we've learned how short-term changes in diet can affect the body.
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- How the brain responds to insulin
- Rapid changes in diet – long-term effect
- Is it possible to restore the brain's sensitivity to insulin?
As reported by IZ with reference to The Conversation, a study conducted by scientists from the University of Tübingen has shown that even short-term consumption of unhealthy foods significantly reduces insulin sensitivity in the brain of healthy people. Moreover, this effect persists even after returning to a normal diet. This indicates that the brain plays a key role in the development of obesity.
How the brain responds to insulin
The distribution of body fat and the gradual gain of weight depend on the brain's response to insulin. In a healthy person, this hormone helps control appetite. However, in people who are overweight or obese, insulin loses its ability to regulate eating behavior, leading to the development of insulin resistance.
In addition to controlling blood sugar levels, insulin also signals the brain that it is full, reducing food intake. But the response to this hormone can vary greatly from person to person. Some people have a weak or absent brain response to insulin. This is known as “brain insulin resistance.”
People with this trait tend to have stronger food cravings and accumulate more fat in the abdominal area. The more fat cells there are, the less effectively insulin works. Fatty tissue secretes substances that contribute to the further development of resistance to this hormone.
Rapid changes in diet – long-term effect
The researchers found that after just five days of consuming an extra 1,500 calories, mostly in the form of candy bars and chips, the participants' brains showed a significant decline in insulin sensitivity, a phenomenon previously only seen in obese people.
Even more interestingly, even after returning to a normal diet, insulin sensitivity remained low. Although no significant weight gain was recorded during this period, liver fat content increased significantly.
Is it possible to restore the brain's sensitivity to insulin?
While dietary changes can quickly affect the brain's response, there are ways to restore insulin sensitivity. Regular physical activity has previously been shown to help restore normal brain insulin response in overweight and obese people. It is likely that a similar effect is seen in people of normal weight.
The number of obese people worldwide has doubled in the past two decades, and there is no sign of this trend slowing down. However, it is worth considering the role of the brain, as the mechanisms that lead to obesity are much more complex than simply an unbalanced diet and lack of exercise.
As a reminder, we previously wrote about whether ice baths really work.