Successful dieters have increased neural activity in cortical areas involved in the control of behavior
Abstract
Objective To investigate whether dietary restraint, a landmark of successful dieting, is associated with specific patterns of brain responses to the sensory experience of food and meal consumption.Design and subjects Cross-sectional study of the brain's response to the sensory experience of food and meal consumption in nine successful dieters (age: 38+/-7 years, body fat (%): 28+/-3) and 20 non-dieters (age: 31+/-9 years, body fat (%): 33+/-9), all women.Measurements Changes in brain activity in response to the sensory experience of food and meal consumption were assessed by using positron emission tomography and (15)O water as a radiotracer. Body fatness was assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Subjective ratings of hunger and fullness were measured by visual analogue scale. Dietary restraint, disinhibition and hunger were assessed by the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire.Results Successful dieters had a significantly higher level of dietary restraint compared to non-dieters. In response to meal consumption, successful dieters had a greater activation in the dorsal prefrontal cortex (DPFC), dorsal striatum and anterior cerebellar lobe as compared to non-dieters. In response to the same stimulation, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) was significantly more activated in non-dieters as compared to successful dieters. Dietary restraint was positively correlated with the response in the DPFC and negatively with the response in the OFC. The responses in the DPFC and OFC were negatively intercorrelated.Conclusion Cortical areas involved in controlling inappropriate behavioral responses, such as the DPFC, are particularly activated in successful dieters in response to meal consumption. The association between the degree of dietary restraint and the coordinated neural changes in the DPFC and OFC raises the possibility that cognitive control of food intake is achieved by modulating neural circuits controlling food reward.
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Cortical areas DLPFC and OFC involved in inhibitory control have been found activated in successful dieters in response to meal consumption.
“Interestingly, cortical areas, like the DPFC and OFC that are involved in inhibitory control, have also been found to become activated in successful dieters in response to meal consumption (130), suggesting a potential target for behavioural retraining in the treatment of obesity (and also in addiction).”
From Obesity and addiction: Neurobiological overlaps (2013) · cites this paper as [130]
Successful dieters activate prefrontal regions involved in inhibitory control (dlPFC and OFC) while eating.
“Interestingly, successful dieters activate prefrontal regions involved in inhibitory control (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and OFC) while eating (88).”
From The Addictive Dimensionality of Obesity (2013) · cites this paper as [88]
Cortical areas such as the DLPFC and OFC that are involved in inhibitory control have been found to become activated in successful dieters in response to meal consumption, suggesting a potential target for behavioral retraining in the treatment of obesity and also in addiction.
“Interestingly, cortical areas, like the DPFC and OFC that are involved in inhibitory control, have also been found to become activated in successful dieters in response to meal consumption (DelParigi et al 2007), suggesting a potential target for behavioral retraining in the treatment of obesity (and also in addiction).”
From Food and Drug Reward: Overlapping Circuits in Human Obesity and Addiction (2011) · cites this paper as DelParigi et al 2007
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- Authors
- DelParigi, A., Chen, K., Salbe, A. D., Hill, J. O., Wing, R. R., Reiman, E. M., & Tataranni, P. A.
- Affiliations
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix (US)
- University of Colorado Health (US)
- Miriam Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- DelParigi, A
- Venue
- International Journal of Obesity
- Published
- 2006-07-04
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 440-448
- ISSN
- 0307-0565 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-5497
- OpenAlex
- W2035823432
- Cited by
- 255
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 10.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- International Journal of Obesity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- NIH Clinical Center
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- dietary restraint, food intake regulation, dorsal prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, dorsal striatum, food reward, hunger, disinhibition, fat mass, women
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Blood Glucose, Brain, Cerebral Cortex, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diet, Eating, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified, Female, Humans, Hunger, Insulin, Neurons, Satiation, Sensation, Prefrontal Cortex, Positron-Emission Tomography
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