Even though scientists and experts have studied obesity for many years, they are still far from understanding the truth behind this issue.
But, a recent study conducted at the Oregon Research Institute reveals interesting findings on a brain chemical that seems to lead to overeating: Dopamine.
What is dopamine? Dopamine is a brain chemical that senses pleasure. For example, take a comforting food like warm apple pie. As you stuff your face with a huge bite of pie, dopamine levels are boosted giving you a satisfactory sensation.
Senior scientist, Dr. Eric Stice lead a study that suggests that dopamine levels are less active in obese individuals compared to the fit and lean.
The study involved 43 college girls ages 18-22, and 33 teenagers ages 14-18. The girls ranged from very skinny to obese. 
They were all asked to sip on delicious chocolate milkshakes while a scanner studied an area of their brain called Dorsal Striatum, the pleasure center filled with dopamine.
Scientists noticed that the pleasure center was less active in the obese volunteers compared to the thinner ones.
Scientists suggest that less dopamine activity may lead to overeating.
For example, if the person’s pleasure senses are low when indulging in a milkshake, then he or she may overeat to compensate to reach the level of satisfaction.
So, how do I feel about this released study?
I find this dopamine study to be very interesting but I also feel that there are more factors that need to be researched before this conclusion is definite.
Since I have experienced being in a bigger body and overeating, I can say that I was always satisfied with my meals. I did feel a boost in my dopamine levels as I tasted all the flavor and appreciated every texture. But, only under a scanner will I really know how active my pleasure center was, compared to now.
I also had an addictive behavior and used food for comfort. I felt insecure and unworthy so every bite was a symbol of happiness.
I felt that the problem was me, myself and I.
I realized I had to battle my mind by learning how to retrain my thoughts about food. The difference between then and now, is that I enjoy eating while practicing portion control. I eat to live, not live to eat.
What are your thoughts on the study?
Love, Ghada.
You can’t pinpoint why someone overeats. It’s impossible. At the end of the day all the science in the world will not save us from being an overweight nation. There are way to many variables. For example brain chemistry, stress, upbringing, amount of exercise and of course your food choices just to name a few. Everyone is different. If the dopamine study held more weight you could take an anti depressant and be skinny. Again, there are to many variables. You have to find out what works for you!
I will have to agree with the previous comments . I believe that there are just way too many variables. I too have been in a bigger body and it was not from overeating it was from taking anti depressant drugs.So if this study was true I should have never gotten to be overweight from taking that type of drug. I have never ate for pleasure and associate all addictive behaviors as just that. Behavior which can be defined as the response to internal and external stimuli the action or reaction under any given circumstance.
Many factors can alter someone’s eating pattern from disorders within the body to emotional ones. Mine stems from an underactive thyroid! I was really heavy during my early childhood till age 12. I had a 42inch waist line and weighed in a good 100kgs! This also came about with all the heavy family cooking and tons of desserts after. To this day I have a very bad sweet tooth. After 12, I battled with an eating disorder just so that I could be slim, however that gave rise to other major complications. Let me remind you I am a male. Fast forward to today, I am now a fitness junkie and into good nutritious eating habits. I do give in to my sweet cravings but only one day a week or in small bite size portions during the week. Like you I have trained to eating healthy. I am now a good size 32-34 waist depending on my diet.
As scientists suggest that less dopamine can lead to overeating, I just think that bad nutrition habits, especially coming from a cultured background, could lead to obesity! Again various factors could give rise to obesity so I do not agree entirely with the research.
great study. but like others said a lot of variables can factor into it. weight is a case by case basis.
That was great, but I think different people have different reasons on weight issues. It still needs more studies.