Weight Loss Motivation Done In By Your Brain Or Really Your Heart?

Posted on February 12th, 2010.

A new study shows that men, not women, are better able to command the brains reaction to their own favorite foods. But does the study take into account eating as a ‘substitute’ for love, comfort or reward? Years of such habits often sabotage even the most staunch goal oriented weight loss motivation.

Brain-imaging study was conducted using 10 men and 13 women who had fasted for 20 consecutive hours. They were scanned several times while being presented with their favorite food, or none at all. They were also asked to suppress their food desires while the same favorite foods were near by.

“Even though the women said they were less hungry when trying to inhibit their response to the food, their brains were still firing away in the regions that control the drive to eat,” Wang said. “In contrast, men’s brain activity decreased along with their self-reports of hunger during the scan when they were asked to keep their hunger in check.”
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090121211340.htm

The brain areas activated are those involved with conditioning, regulating and motivation for what we eat. The differences in sex may show that gender plays an important role with regards to perceiving and responding to internal body signals. What you think and how you act are a big part of weight loss motivation.

The mind is very powerful. The subconscious houses our feelings and controls the nervous system. This study, while important, does not take into account that actions speak louder than words. Just because you think it, does not make it so. A wise person, man or woman, concerned with keeping their weight loss motivation high, knows that food used as a substitute for love, comfort or acceptance will never make their weight loss goal.

-admin, Thinexa Natural Appetite Suppressant