Obesity is inherent to us from the beginning: scientists claim it develops not due to diet.

In recent decades, the global rise in obesity has created serious challenges for individuals, healthcare systems, and caregivers worldwide, according to scientists. While factors such as poor diet and lack of physical activity are typically blamed, recent studies have uncovered more complex mechanisms, particularly those related to a hormone well-known to many, reports DZD.

A joint study by the Tübingen University Hospital, the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), and the Helmholtz Munich University, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, has revealed the role of insulin in the brain in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The scientific research, conducted under the guidance of Professor Dr. Stefanie Kullmann, demonstrated that even short-term consumption of ultra-processed, high-calorie foods, such as chocolate bars and potato chips, can significantly alter brain function in healthy individuals.

"Our results show for the first time that even brief consumption of highly processed unhealthy foods causes significant changes in the brains of healthy people, which may be an initial cause of obesity and type 2 diabetes," noted Professor Kullmann.

Under normal conditions, insulin in the brain suppresses appetite. However, in individuals suffering from obesity, this regulatory function is disrupted, leading to insulin resistance. Healthy participants in the study exhibited a decrease in brain sensitivity to insulin just five days after consuming high-calorie foods, mirroring the pattern observed in individuals with obesity. This decrease in sensitivity persisted even a week after returning to a balanced diet.

The study involved 29 male volunteers of average weight, divided into two groups. One group supplemented their regular diet with an additional 1500 kcal from processed snacks for five consecutive days, while the control group maintained their usual eating habits. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), researchers assessed liver fat content and brain sensitivity to insulin both immediately after the intervention and one week later.

The results showed a significant increase in liver fat and a decrease in brain sensitivity to insulin in the high-calorie group, with the effects lasting even after reverting to normal eating.

These findings suggest that the brain's response to insulin quickly adapts to dietary changes, which could potentially contribute to the development of obesity and related diseases. Professor Andreas Birkenfeld, a co-author of the study, emphasized the need for further research into the role of the brain in metabolic disorders: "We hypothesize that the brain's response to insulin adapts to short-term dietary changes before weight gain occurs, thereby contributing to the development of obesity and other secondary conditions."

A previous study published in the journal Nature Communications had already shown that high brain sensitivity to insulin is associated with favorable fat distribution in the body and weight loss during lifestyle interventions. This highlights the key role of our brain in regulating metabolism and the potentially serious consequences of impaired insulin sensitivity.

Overall, this research underscores the profound impact of even short-term consumption of unhealthy food on brain function, emphasizing the importance of dietary choices for maintaining metabolic health.

Important! This article is based on the latest scientific and medical research and does not contradict them. The text is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice. For a diagnosis, please consult a physician.