Why do obese people experience less pleasure from eating? 🧠

Obese people often experience less pleasure from eating, and UC Berkeley scientists may have discovered why: a decrease in a brain chemical called neurotensin. Correcting this deficit could restore food pleasure and aid in weight loss.

High-fat and high-sugar foods trigger a dopamine surge, but paradoxically, obese individuals derive less satisfaction from them. A recent study shows that high-fat diets reduce neurotensin, thereby diminishing food-related pleasure. This lack of pleasure might even encourage habitual overeating.


Researchers observed that neurotensin plays a key role in regulating the dopaminergic system, influencing our motivation to eat. By restoring neurotensin levels in obese mice, they were able to reignite their interest in calorie-rich foods and reduce overall consumption. This discovery opens new avenues for treatments targeting this specific mechanism.

The team used advanced techniques like optogenetics to understand how neurotensin affects brain reward circuits. They found that its absence in obese mice prevented dopamine from triggering the usual pleasure associated with food. This explains why these animals continued eating out of habit rather than desire.

By genetically modifying mice to increase neurotensin production, scientists not only observed weight loss but also improved mobility and reduced anxiety. These results suggest neurotensin influences far more than just eating behavior.

The implications of this research extend beyond obesity. Scientists plan to study neurotensin's role in other conditions, such as diabetes and eating disorders. Understanding these interactions could lead to more effective and personalized treatments.

This study, published in Nature, marks a significant step in understanding the brain mechanisms related to obesity. It offers promising leads for developing therapies specifically targeting neurotensin, without the side effects of current approaches.

How do high-fat diets alter brain reward circuits?

High-fat diets cause lasting changes in the brain, including reduced neurotensin. This alteration directly affects the dopaminergic system, essential for experiencing pleasure when consuming food.

These brain changes may explain why obese individuals experience less satisfaction from eating, even foods they previously enjoyed. This diminished food pleasure can paradoxically encourage increased food consumption in an attempt to regain lost satisfaction.

Recent research suggests these changes are reversible. Returning to a balanced diet or targeted interventions can restore neurotensin levels and, consequently, the pleasure of eating. This represents a significant advance in understanding and treating obesity.