Two studies confirm that stress is a major underlying factor in the obesity epidemic among the poor. One from Scotland, published in the journal Appetite, documents the link between overeating and the stress that accompanies income inequality.
John Hopkins University researchers believe they’ve found a nerve cell that may serve as a “switch” that tells the brain it’s time to put down the fork and walk away from that second helping of chocolate cake.
The nerve cell, discovered in mice, could be a useful tool in the fight against obesity… if you don’t mind becoming a genetically modified human.
If only there was a way to magically “shut off” our cravings for all of our vices. Some kind of pill or shot that just took it all away…
It sounds very sci-fi, but it’s close to becoming a reality.
U.K. researchers are preparing to investigate whether hormones found in the gut could help people beat their addictions, and stop people who have given up smoking, drinking, and even overeating from relapsing into their bad habits.
If you ever find yourself digging through the fridge looking for food when you’re not really hungry, it could be more than a lack of willpower that’s to blame. Scientists believe the phenomenon could be the result of a hormone deficiency in the brain. [1]
