A recent scientific study has uncovered an unexpected reason why some people have an increased desire for sugary foods.
Published in Nature Communications, the study by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that simply watching others eat sweets can stimulate the brain to overeat. This effect is linked to dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the sensation of pleasure.
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In the experiments, lab mice were divided into hungry and satiated groups and positioned so they could see neighboring mice eating without interacting. Researchers observed that satiated mice showed no interest when their neighbors ate regular or high-fat foods. However, when they saw others eating sugar-rich foods, they immediately started eating actively.
Remarkably, this effect disappeared when the mice were given drugs that blocked dopamine receptors. The study confirmed that D1 and D2 dopamine receptors play a key role in triggering appetite when observing others eat.
Dr. Young Sho, the lead researcher, explained: “Activation of D1 and D2 receptors sends a signal to the brain: ‘This is pleasurable, repeat it.’ Simply seeing someone eat can stimulate overeating, even if you aren’t hungry or don’t need food.”
The researchers noted the importance of these findings in understanding how visual and social cues influence eating behavior. In today’s world, tempting images of food are everywhere—on TV, social media, and screens of all kinds.
The team hopes that understanding how visual and social stimuli affect eating habits will help develop strategies to promote healthier diets and combat obesity and overeating.
