Personalized anti-obesity pills for men and women could be on the horizon, explains a new study. UCLA scientists have discovered “sex-specific” brain signals that lead men and women to overeat.
The team combined MRI scan data with patients’ clinical features and individual histories to reach these findings.
“We found differences in many brain networks associated with early childhood adversity, mental health quality, and how sensory stimulation is experienced. The resulting brain signatures, based on multimodal MRI imaging, can help us more precisely tailor obesity interventions according to an individual’s sex.” says senior author Arpana Gupta, PhD, brain, obesity, and microbiome researcher at UCLA, in a press release.
This first-of-its-kind study could provide new insights into why women are more likely to be obese. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American women had a
higher prevalence of severe obesity (11.5%) compared to men (6.9%) as of 2018.
Previous research by the same team found that emotionally-driven and compulsive eating seems to play an important role in obesity among women. Men’s eating behavior tends to be influenced more by
greater awareness of gut sensations and visceral responses, those related to abdominal discomfort.
What causes weight gain in men and women?
The latest findings reveal differences in brain structure, function, and connectivity. For example, alterations in certain neural networks suggest that women with a high BMI (body mass index) have a stronger craving for highly processed foods like burgers, ice cream, cookies, and cakes.
“When designing treatment plans for women with a high body mass index, it may be important to focus on emotional regulation techniques and vulnerability factors“, says Dr. Gupta.
The 183 individuals who participated in the study ranged from 18 to 55 years old, and nearly half were obese. They completed a battery of questionnaires assessing childhood trauma, anxiety and depression, visceral sensitivity, food addiction, gut symptoms, personality traits, and many other factors. Each participant also underwent three different brain MRI scans to assess structure, function, and connectivity.
The study authors analyzed the datasets from the three scans and clinical information using an analytical tool that attempts to identify a limited number of variables from multiple datasets to predict an outcome. The results show network connectivity changes associated with a high BMI regardless of sex. In women, the study identified
brain regions and networks
with alterations linked to
early childhood trauma.
These seem consistent with previous observations that obese women, compared to males, may have higher anxiety, lower resilience levels, and difficulties integrating emotions with goal-directed action planning. Women may also be more susceptible to the sight, smell, and taste of ultra-processed foods.
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