Scientists have discovered that there may be a thought process behind why people choose to eat even when theyre full, furthering the indications of previous studies.
Results found in the research published in the journal Biological Psychiatry indicate that humans tend to eat unhealthy foods even when theyre full because it releases a pleasure sensation into the brain that the body takes as a reward.
Ghrelin, which is a hunger hormone, also serves as a drive for individuals to seek out certain high-calorie foods, reminding the brain that it will make the body feel good.
“They give us sensory pleasure, and they motivate us to work to obtain them,” explained senior co-author of the study, Dr. Jeffrey Zigman. “They also help us reorganize our memory so that we remember how to get them.”
Researchers split mice into groups of two, and either blocked the action of ghrelin, or let it continue. Both groups were then exposed to a small hole, which featured a high-fat food on the other side. Mice that had their ghrelin blocked gave up on trying to obtain the food much quicker than the other group.