Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Obesity & Brain Reward System (BRS)

What does obesity have to do with the Brain Reward System, whatever that is?

The Brain Reward System is one of the most important functional systems in the brain. It drives human behavior towards pleasurable stimuli such as food, sex, relationships, etc., and away from painful ones (conflict, homework, etc.) that require more energy or effort. Make no mistake, obesity represents a highjacked brain—associated with hyperactivation of the Brain Reward System for high-calorie (HC) versus low-calorie (LC) food cues. This encourages unhealthy food selection and overeating. It is triggered by seeing, smelling, thinking about, and picturing (visualizing) the HC food. The good news is that this learned behavior can be changed and the brain can rewire itself to activate when it sees healthier food choices. The bottom line? It comes down to personal choice. Do you prefer a short-term food and beverage reward or long-term healthier heart and brain? A Longevity Lifestyle recommends giving your heart and brain a break today. Overweight and obesity happens an ounce at a time—so does weight loss and prevention. 

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