New research on the brain suggests that women unconsciously have a tougher time resisting their favorite foods than men do.

SOURCE:  MedlinePlus.gov -- HealthDay

DATE: January 20, 2009

EXCERPT:  " New research on the brain suggests that women unconsciously have a tougher time resisting their favorite foods than men do.   .... The researchers found [via PET scans] that certain areas of the brain became more active in both the men and women when they were tempted with food. The brain areas that lit up control emotions such as motivation.  Also, both men and women succeeded in making themselves feel less hungry by inhibiting their desire to eat the food. But the brain scans suggested that the women's brains were still acting as if they were hungry. ....  Hormones could play a factor in women  .... more

RELATED PUBMED LINK:

Wang GJ, Volkow ND, Telang F, Jayne M, Ma Y, Pradhan K, Zhu W, Wong CT, Thanos PK, Geliebter A, Biegon A, Fowler JS. Evidence of gender differences in the ability to inhibit brain activation elicited by food stimulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Jan 27;106(4):1249-54.    Free article 

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From R&D Daily. Advantage Business Media. Source: Brookhaven National Lab. Brain imaging explains hunger pangs of men and women.

An original story and video is available here, http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/PR_display.asp?prID=876

Earlier studies on the neurobiology of eating disorders and obesity at Brookhaven Lab have:

• identified brain circuits that may cause the obese to overeat

• shown that levels of dopamine receptors, which receive chemical messages of well being and reward in the brain, are decreased in the brains of obese individuals

• demonstrated that parts of the brain responsible for sensation in the tongue, mouth, and lips are more active in the obese

• revealed that the mere sight and smell of favorite foods spikes levels of dopamine in the brains of food-deprived people - just as it spikes this pleasure chemical in the brains of those with drug addictions in response to their drug of choice