According to an article published in Science Daily, people who have an addictive-eating behavior display greater neural electrical activity in certain sections of the brain. This April 2011 article suggests that this brain activity is similar to substance dependence.

The study, conducted by researchers at Yale University, was conducted on 48 women of varying weight ranges. The study examined the relationship of symptoms of food addiction and electrical brain activity as measured by an MRI. A comparison was done with desirable tasting foods, such as a chocolate milkshake and a tasteless control beverage.

The findings revealed that elevated food addition levels were associated with greater neural activity in areas of the brain relating to food cues and motivational stimuli. The authors of the study believe that these findings support the basis that compulsory food eating is driven, at least in part, by the anticipation of food reward properties. This theory may partly explain why people may have difficulty in maintaining JSAPA Weight Loss Surgery, even with bariatric surgery.

Not all foods are addictive however. Experts contend that starches, sugars, and carbohydrates are the culprits because they release powerful endorphins. Therefore, people eat these types of foods to chase after the high, not necessarily for their nutritional value. It’s not that carbs are necessarily bad; it’s the addictive relationship that is bad. Once the relationship becomes out of control, it’s labeled as an addiction. Changing addictive food cues is critical to successful weight loss, especially is certain food stimuli act in a manner similar to an addictive drug cue.

For more information about this study, speak to your Jacksonville, Florida bariatric surgery weight loss surgeon.