That the regular consumption of fast foodto overweightis already known to most people. Many studies show the negative effects of hamburgers, pizza and the like on our health. But now researchers have found another important reason why fast food can be harmful to our bodies. A team of scientists from the University of Macquarie in Australia found that when junk food is consumed every day, appetite regulation does not function properly. The body does not send signals that we are already full and overeating quickly occurs.
Fast food suppresses the neural regulation of appetite
Our body has a protective mechanism that prevents us from overeating. After a meal, appetite is suppressed by the hippocampus - a switching station in our brain. This is how the brain regulates how many calories we consume each day. However, the research team from Australia found that unhealthy fast food such as fries, pizza or hamburgers can prevent appetite control. As part of the study, 110 healthy volunteers were examined.
The participants were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of people who ate healthily and the second group consisted of those who ate junk food every day. The researchers found that after just one week, the hippocampus of the subjects in the test group was not functioning properly. This resulted in them never being fully full and eating more and more junk food.
Fast food has a negative effect on our brain
Ultimately, people who eat fast food end up in a vicious circle. On the one hand, they never get full and eat more and more, which can lead to obesity. On the other hand, the consumption of fast food leads to concentration problems and memory impairments. Other studies show that fast food could even trigger depression.
Ultimately, people who eat fast food are less productive at work and often don't feel good about themselves. The good news is that if you completely change your diet and start eating healthy, you will quickly get back in shape. The hippocampus then also begins to function properly again.
