Post by Kat on Mar 29, 2010 17:06:32 GMT -5
Scientists have discovered a link between junkies and junk-food addicts.
The chemical that leads people down a drug addiction path may also be behind the craving to overeat, driving individuals into obesity, a new study suggests.
The research was based on lab rats.
One group of rats was fed nothing but high-fat, high-calorie food, consuming twice as many kilojoules as the "control" rodents.
When the junk food was no longer available to the rats and they were given healthier food, they refused to eat.
The "fat" rats even endured painful electric shocks to satisfy their craving for high-calorie snacks made from sausages, bacon and cheesecake.
What researchers then discovered was dopamine – a chemical released by pleasurable experiences such as sex and narcotics – was also released from the energy dense food.
Drug addicts often find they need more drugs more frequently to keep achievingthe same euphoric feeling.
The obese eater achieves this in the same way with food and can quickly become a compulsive eater.
The study was done by scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida and findings have been published in the online journal Nature Neuroscience.
The research has yet to be conducted among humans, but obese people have agreed with the findings and said bingeing on sweet or fatty foods was an addiction.
Source: health.msn.co.nz/blog.aspx?blogentryid=627738&showcomments=true
The chemical that leads people down a drug addiction path may also be behind the craving to overeat, driving individuals into obesity, a new study suggests.
The research was based on lab rats.
One group of rats was fed nothing but high-fat, high-calorie food, consuming twice as many kilojoules as the "control" rodents.
When the junk food was no longer available to the rats and they were given healthier food, they refused to eat.
The "fat" rats even endured painful electric shocks to satisfy their craving for high-calorie snacks made from sausages, bacon and cheesecake.
What researchers then discovered was dopamine – a chemical released by pleasurable experiences such as sex and narcotics – was also released from the energy dense food.
Drug addicts often find they need more drugs more frequently to keep achievingthe same euphoric feeling.
The obese eater achieves this in the same way with food and can quickly become a compulsive eater.
The study was done by scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida and findings have been published in the online journal Nature Neuroscience.
The research has yet to be conducted among humans, but obese people have agreed with the findings and said bingeing on sweet or fatty foods was an addiction.
Source: health.msn.co.nz/blog.aspx?blogentryid=627738&showcomments=true
