Parts Of Brain That Affect Ability To Diet

[Tannith]

https://www.livescience.com/62744-g...ict-diet-success.html?utm_source=notification
A new study published yesterday (June 4) in the journal JNeurosci found that people with more gray matter in two spots in the area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex seemed to have more self-control when it came to making healthier food choices. (Gray matter is where the neuron cell bodies are found in the brain, and thus where most of the brain's acitivity occurs.)

Gray matter could be a potential "signature for self-control," said senior study author Hilke Plassmann, a professor of decision neuroscience at INSEAD in France. It could indicate how likely a person is to break their diet or reach for the carrots rather than the cupcakes.

 

[donnellysdogs]

I got a few insignificant white blobs on my brain, (seriously), always tried to pick healthy. Dont know if these count as grey matter or exactly where they were in my brain.

 

[lucylocket61]

I suppose it depends on whether one sees successful dieting as a matter of self control or not. I dont.

for example, the standard dieting advice of low fat. It leaves people very hungry, and our bodies crave fats as they are essential for our body to function properly, so the dieter is not lacking in self control when they cant maintain it, they are listening to their bodies need for essential fats.

 

[Brunneria]

It also begs the question of 'what are healthier food choices?'

I would say that for my body, a delicious low carb cup cake with plenty of fat and very low carb is a healthier option than a pile of raw or cooked carrots - since the carrots would raise my blood glucose more, and would not satiate me the way that cupcake would.

Then you also have to factor in a lot of other things, including the amount of insulin resistance, leptin resistance (and carb cravings), whether a person is fat adapted, or not. Also early food habit development and other environmental factors.

I rather dislike the idea of someone telling me that analysing a scan will tell me whether I am capable of eating healthily... Rather like I dislike the idea that a woman with red hair will have a shrewish disposition, or that a man with flat feet is tactless.

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

I suppose it depends on whether one sees successful dieting as a matter of self control or not. I dont.

You beat me to it. When successful control doesn't lead to successful dieting, what do they call it? Don't panic, I'm just playing with words. I'd prefer to say the grey matter just affects self control.

I've always considered myself as being weak willed but it's quite likely I might be made of stronger stuff. I had a meal out with friends on Saturday where the least carby thing I could have was chilli. I'd already told them not to serve rice and then I found myself removing the kidney beans. My friends couldn't understand my self control but it was easy. A no brainer in fact. The more carb I eat, the worse my HbA1c will be and the more likely my GP is to recommend more medication and as Gliclazide helped me gain 10 kgs last time, I don't want to go that route again if I can help it.

 

[first14808]

In future studies, the researchers could try to figure out if people can train the areas of the brain implicated in self-control and, in turn, increase the density of gray matter there. Your "brain is plastic, so your brain structure changes over time," Plassmann said. "I don't want people to say, 'I'm just not good at self-control; I can't change it,'" she added.

Plastic? Don't tell the government or they'll be slapping a plastic tax on brains. As for training, I guess it could be a case of Pavlov, pavlova and a taser. Or doing the LCHF or keto thing, which can reduce hunger pangs, especially if we eat high satiety stuff. And don't give in to social conditioning which means we train ourselves to expect food 3 times a day, hungry or not. But that, along with other upsets to circadian rythms is a well known issue for shift workers.

Neat thing with studies like this is technology lets the researchers see what's happening inside the brain as we think about stuff. And some day, they may figure out where in the brain the pink elephants are hiding..

 

[NicoleC1971]

https://www.livescience.com/62744-g...ict-diet-success.html?utm_source=notification
A new study published yesterday (June 4) in the journal JNeurosci found that people with more gray matter in two spots in the area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex seemed to have more self-control when it came to making healthier food choices. (Gra*/y matter is where the neuron cell bodies are found in the brain, and thus where most of the brain's acitivity occurs.)

Gray matter could be a potential "signature for self-control," said senior study author Hilke Plassmann, a professor of decision neuroscience at INSEAD in France. It could indicate how likely a person is to brea-k their diet or reach for the carrots rather than the cupcakes.

Thanks for posting this.
It refers to 91 patients who were not on a diet being asked which food they would choose to receive after the experiment whilst researchers looked at their brain. A correlation has been drawn but its unclear whether this is driven by the amount of grey matter or something else e.g. those that practise self control develop more grey matter.
From a psychological point of view self control is linked with the trait of conscientiousness (being diligent, hard working, dutiful and inclined to follow the rules.
If both features are not something that we can change perhaps its best to think of different ways to encourage desirable behaviour changes for those that lack willpower or hate to be told what to do as well as those that like to be told the rules and then.follow them consistently to achieve a goal e.g. sugar tax

 

[Hotpepper20000]

https://www.livescience.com/62744-g...ict-diet-success.html?utm_source=notification
A new study published yesterday (June 4) in the journal JNeurosci found that people with more gray matter in two spots in the area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex seemed to have more self-control when it came to making healthier food choices. (Gray matter is where the neuron cell bodies are found in the brain, and thus where most of the brain's acitivity occurs.)

Gray matter could be a potential "signature for self-control," said senior study author Hilke Plassmann, a professor of decision neuroscience at INSEAD in France. It could indicate how likely a person is to break their diet or reach for the carrots rather than the cupcakes.

All I will add to this is...... I was not fat because of lack of self control!!!!!
I exercised.... and more vegetables and home cooked meals then most of my so called “skinny” friends

 

[dunelm]

https://www.livescience.com/62744-g...ict-diet-success.html?utm_source=notification
A new study published yesterday (June 4) in the journal JNeurosci found that people with more gray matter in two spots in the area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex seemed to have more self-control when it came to making healthier food choices. (Gray matter is where the neuron cell bodies are found in the brain, and thus where most of the brain's acitivity occurs.)

Gray matter could be a potential "signature for self-control," said senior study author Hilke Plassmann, a professor of decision neuroscience at INSEAD in France. It could indicate how likely a person is to break their diet or reach for the carrots rather than the cupcakes.

Thanks for the post. Interesting as it is though it is just that; interesting. Hopefully it will guide some future experiments as it makes some sense.
20 years ago I was involved in research into brain plasticity after both brain injury and also limb amputation. Most brain re-use; for instance the bit that becomes redundant if you lose a finger then is used for something else, takes place discretely in areas other than the cortex. If new evidence suggests that the cortex can be re-trained then happy days.

 

[zand]

Not sure of the merits of being able to stick to a diet tbh. What we need is a healthy lifestyle choice that suits us without trying. We don't need willpower for that. When the body receives the right nutrition then appetite will diminish naturally. It's long been known that people who gorge on junk food do so because their bodies are crying out for real nutrition which they don't get from junk food. This in turn makes them hungrier, so they eat more junk and the cycle goes on.

That's why low carb is so good. Carbs are addictive, if you reduce them significantly then you don't get the addiction. No willpower needed. I have heaps of willpower and have stuck to more diets than I care to remember. It didn't help with my weight though.

 

[lucylocket61]

lack of self control??? OK, I find I am not able to post a suitable rebuff to this which is within forum guidelines.

:***:

 

[zand]

lack of self control??? OK, I find I am not able to post a suitable rebuff to this which is within forum guidelines.

:***:

so you must have heaps of self control then..... I would have just posted it lol

 

[Guzzler]

Basic premise = everyone who is obese has a lack of self control which infers a lack of morals. What a load of codswallop. There is a huge variance in outcomes within a single diet programme, I find it abhorrant that some people may now feel smug and self righteous because they 'succeeded' where others 'failed'.

 

[Guzzler]

And another thing, just because my pre frontal cortex lights up like Blackpool illuminations at a picture of a wedge of carrot cake does not necessarily mean I will choose that option from the menu offered but on a bad day... I am human, I have my failings and it has little to do with will power.

I regard this in the same way as people who say 'Pull yourself together' when they are faced with someone suffering depression. It is inane and thoughtless.

 

[ickihun]

https://www.livescience.com/62744-g...ict-diet-success.html?utm_source=notification
A new study published yesterday (June 4) in the journal JNeurosci found that people with more gray matter in two spots in the area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex seemed to have more self-control when it came to making healthier food choices. (Gray matter is where the neuron cell bodies are found in the brain, and thus where most of the brain's acitivity occurs.)

Gray matter could be a potential "signature for self-control," said senior study author Hilke Plassmann, a professor of decision neuroscience at INSEAD in France. It could indicate how likely a person is to break their diet or reach for the carrots rather than the cupcakes.

I think education has the biggest influence and then self control.
So if not enough grey matter then change could be along time coming.
Speaking for myself my diet is better when not socialising with out of control food eaters. (hubby). I have to distance myself to ensure less high carb influence. He still buys me chocolate as he knows the low cocoa bars make me giddy and less narky. For now.
I'm slowly turning things around so that if he brings home chocolate I moan and show my joy when bgs are great.
So psychology does play a part too.
Biology, sociology and psychology.
Biology alone isn't the only key to a successful healthy lifestyle.