Using MRI scans to investigate how the brains of nearly 80 individuals responded to pictures of food, researchers from the University of Granada in Spain and Monash University in Australia claim at least some people become obese because of the way food cravings are processed in the brain. The researchers found that a food craving activates a different brain network in obese individuals than in those who are not overweight. They conclude that the risk of obesity may be tied to the brain, which may explain why some people have difficulty losing weight and staying on diets.
European College of Neuropsychopharmacology’s Annual Conference, September 2015