Yummy foodie pictures can prompt to add on thousands of calories

A senior study author, and assistant professor at the University Of Southern California Kathleen Page, MD, in Los Angeles, stated; "This stimulation of the brain's reward areas may contribute to overeating and obesity. We thought this was a striking finding, because the current environment is inundated with advertisements showing images of high-calorie foods." This was proved after the study.

Functional MRI examinations were performed to gather brain responses from 13 obese Hispanic women. Hispanic women suffering from obesity fall in the "high risk for continued weight gain and obesity ".

Two Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans were done on the participants as they stared at a sequence of pictures of high calorie foods and low calorie food items with photographs of non-food items. The women had to rate their desire and hunger for sweet or savory delights and mark on a scale from 1-10 after seeing similar pictures.

The women had to drink 50 gms glucose halfway through the MRI's at one occasion and the same amount of fructose at another time. The glucose amount was same as a soda can and the two sugars represented high fructose corn syrup and table sugar. The scans were used to calculate the blood flow in the brain. Areas that showed an increased blood flow indicated greater activity. The scientists discovered brain vicinities which showed higher activity as a response to the stimulating pictures.

The study findings
Pictures speak volumes but can also end up prompting you carry a heavy calorie package. These are the findings that are mentioned in a study by The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston. Scientists have revealed that attractive pictures of high calorie gourmet foods tickle the brain's appetite centre.

It stimulates the hypothalamus and increases the urge to eat. High calorie foods photographs elevated hunger pangs and the craving for savory and sweet foods. The results showed that after consuming a sugary drink the desire for savory foods climbed higher. The final conclusion that the team presented is "These findings suggest that added sweeteners could be one of the main contributors to the obesity epidemic."

So it is better to close your eyes to pictures of gourmet delight when you are marching on a weight loss spree. Isn't it?

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