Perceived Social Isolation Tied to Altered Brain Processing of Food Cues
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, April 9, 2024 -- Social isolation is associated with altered brain processing of food cues in premenopausal women, according to a study published online April 4 in JAMA Network Open.
Xiaobei Zhang, Ph.D., from the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues examined the association between perceived social isolation and brain reactivity to food cues, altered eating behaviors, obesity, and mental health symptoms. The analysis included 93 healthy, premenopausal female participants who underwent magnetic resonance imaging while performing a food cue viewing task.
The researchers found that participants with higher perceived social isolation reported higher fat mass percentage, lower diet quality, increased maladaptive eating behaviors (cravings, reward-based eating, uncontrolled eating, and food addiction), and poor mental health (anxiety, depression, and psychological resilience). The group with higher social isolation showed altered brain reactivity to food cues in regions of the default mode, executive control, and visual attention networks. There was a correlation between isolation-related neural changes in response to sweet foods and various altered eating behaviors and psychological symptoms. The connection between social isolation and maladaptive eating behaviors was significantly mediated by altered brain responses to sweet foods (β for indirect effect, 0.111), as were associations with increased body fat composition (β, −0.141).
"These findings underscore the need for holistic mind-body–directed interventions that may mitigate the adverse health consequences of social isolation," the authors write.
One author disclosed being a scientific adviser to Yamaha.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted April 2024
Read this next
BMI Cutoff of 30 for Obesity May Be Too High for Middle-Aged, Older Adults
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- The optimal body mass index (BMI) cutoff point appears to be 27 kg/m2 for detecting obesity in middle-aged and older adults, according to a study presented...
More Physical Activity Tied to Higher Odds of Hot Flashes
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- Increases in physical activity increase the odds of menopause-related hot flashes, according to a study published online May 28 in Menopause. Sarah...
Weight Navigation Program Boosts Use of Weight Management Treatments
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- A primary care-based weight navigation program (WNP) is feasible and associated with greater use of weight management treatments (WMT) and weight loss...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.