Want to eat junk food even if you're not hungry? The latest research tells you: These cells may be to blame

There is an area in the brain called the amygdala that deals with strong emotions
such as fear.
Now, researchers have discovered that the amygdala may also be the culprit for overeating
.
Professor Bo Li of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) found a group of neurons in the amygdala of mice that drive mice to eat high-fat or sugary foods — even if they're not hungry
.
Therapies that target these neurons may lead to new treatments
for obesity with minimal side effects.

Like most people, mice also tend to think that foods high in fat and sugar are the tastiest
.
They may indulge in these delicacies for pleasure, not for survival
.
The neurons Li and his colleagues studied trigger this behavior, called hedonic eating
.
He noted:

"Even though animals should stop eating because they're full, it can still drive these animals to eat more
if these neurons are still active.
"

Li says that when it comes to treating obesity, almost no one succeeds in long-term weight control
.
Metabolic processes in the body usually reverse any progression
.
Therapy can help increase the chances of treatment success, but many medications have side effects
.
"Currently available drugs to aid weight management can have significant side effects
.
Therefore, we need a more targeted approach
.
Identifying the brain circuits that control diet is important
for developing better treatment options for those who have difficulty controlling their weight.
”

When the team turned off specific neurons, the mice were no longer attracted
to the high-fat, high-sugar foods that had previously tempted them.

"They just eat happily and stay healthy, and they not only stop gaining weight, but they seem healthier overall
.
" Shutting down these neurons can reduce overeating and prevent obesity
.
It also promotes physical activity in animals, leading to weight loss and better metabolic health
.

Li and his team are exploring ways to
manipulate neurons that trigger hedonic eating.
The next step, he says, is to map out how these neurons respond to different types of food and see what makes them so sensitive
.
He hopes the collaboration will lead to new strategies
for effective anti-obesity therapies.

In the study, Li and CSHL Associate Professor Stephen Shea combined
their neuroscience expertise with CSHL Professor Tobias Janowitz's expertise in metabolism and endocrinology.
They also collaborated with CSHL assistant professor Semir Beyaz, an expert in
gut and nutrition research.
This is part of an ongoing multidisciplinary study by CSHL to study the connections between the brain and the
body.