Describe what happens in our brains to cause us to overeat, especially food high in fat and sugar.

Once we eat meals, the physique releases hormones together with insulin and dopamine which might affect our skill to really feel satiated. Insulin is launched to scale back glucose ranges within the blood after consuming whereas dopamine is a reward hormone that additionally influences how a lot meals we eat because it prompts facilities of enjoyment within the mind. When meals excessive in fats and sugar are eaten, they set off bigger than regular surges of those hormones resulting in elevated emotions of enjoyment which might enhance cravings for extra high-fat/sugar meals. These neurotransmitters additionally act on areas of the mind related to urge for food regulation or reward such because the hypothalamus, ventral tegmental space (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). This makes it simpler for us to overeat since these areas reply extra strongly than normal when offered with unhealthy however tasty meals choices. As well as, analysis has additionally proven that consuming giant quantities of both fats or sugar may cause modifications in neurons positioned inside sure elements of the mind leading to elevated hedonic responses for these kinds of meals objects over time making them much more fascinating. As such, this mix between hormonal signaling, neuronal exercise and realized hedonic responses creates a really highly effective cycle that may lead people down a path in the direction of overeating fatty/sugary meals with out even realizing it.