- Australian study found living on junk food makes rats fat- Â but also suppresses their desire to eat a healthy diet
- Scientists believe it changes a person’s behaviour and weakens self-control
- World Health Organisation estimates more than 10% of world’s population is obese and 2.8 million people each year from the conditionÂ
98
View
comments
A diet laden with burgers and fries, dripping with sweet treats and saturated in pies could kill our appetite for healthy foods, scientists warn.
A new Australian study has found living on junk food not only makes rats fat, but also suppresses their desires to eat a balanced diet.
Scientists believe their findings help explain how excessive consumption of unhealthy foods, can change a person’s behaviour, weaken their self-control and lead to overeating and obesity.Â
Scroll down for video
A new study, undertaken at the University of New South Wales in Australia, has found living on junk food not only makes rats fat, but also suppresses their desire to eat a balanced dietÂ
Scientists believe their findings help explain how excessive consumption of unhealthy foods, can change a person’s behaviour, weaken their self-control and lead to overeating and obesity
Professor Margaret Morris, from the University of New South Wales, said: ‘The interesting thing about this finding is that if the same thing happens in humans, eating junk food may change our responses to signals associated with food rewards.
‘It’s like you’ve just had ice cream for lunch, yet you still go and eat more when you hear the ice cream van come by.’Â
The team of researchers taught young male rats to associate each of two different sound cues with a particular flavour of sugar water, cherry and grape.
Rats raised on a healthy diet stopped responding to cues linked to a flavour, in which they had recently overindulged.
This inborn mechanism, widespread in animals, protects against overeating and helps promote a healthy, balanced diet.Â
But after two weeks eating a daily diet rich with cafeteria foods, including pie, dumplings, cookies and cake – with 150 per cent more calories – the rats’ weight increased by 10 per cent.
At the same time, researchers noted their behaviour had also changed dramatically.Â
They became indifferent in their food choices and no longer avoided the sound advertising the over-familiar taste.
The team of researchers deduced this indicated they had lost their natural preference for healthy foods.
They noted the change lasted for some time after the rats returned to a healthy diet.Â
Professor Margaret Morris said: ‘The interesting thing about this finding is that if the same thing happens in humans, eating junk food may change our responses to signals associated with food rewards’
The team concluded a diet of junk food causes lasting changes in the reward circuit parts of the rats’ brain, including the orbitofrontal cortex – an area of the brain responsible for decision-making.
They said the findings may have implications for people’s ability to limit their intake of certain kinds of foods, because the brain’s reward ciruits are similar in all mammals.
The World Health Organisation has estimated that more than 10 per cent of the world’s adult population is obese.
WHO said at least 2.8 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese – which are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease and cancer.  Â
Dr Amy Reichelt, lead author of the paper, said: ‘As the global obesity epidemic intensifies, advertisements may have a greater effect on people who are overweight and make snacks like chocolate bars harder to resist.’Â
The findings were reported in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.
Â
-
9-year-old girl accidentally kills shooting instructor with…
-
Toddler’s foul mouth comes out after Ice Bucket Challenge
-
Caught on camera CEO attacks dog in lift
-
Chilling CCTV vision shows bus crash while driver on drugs
-
Chelsea Handler’s hilarious nude shower fight with Ellen
-
Elephants dance to the music of a violin player
-
The Iron Dome intercepting FIFTEEN rockets at once
-
Obama vows justice in murder of US journalist
-
Related: Mysterious lights appear in the Midlands sky
-
Scooby Snack? Dog called out by owner for eating her glasses
-
Bogey the dachshund gets stuck in his owners jumper sleeve
-
Rock and roll royalty. New comedy lampoons UK monarchy
-
The fateful seconds before nine-year-old girl accidentally…
-
Father is found NOT GUILTY of shooting dead drunk driver who…
-
‘Sons of Guns’ cancelled following arrest of show’s star for…
-
Man, 32, is left with brain damage after ‘being attacked by…
-
Revelers dry off as perfect weather is forecast in Nevada…
-
‘I wonder who she b**w this time’: Katie Couric’s bitchy…
-
PICTURED: The moment police turn up to arrest Miley Cyrus’s…
-
Multimillionaire CEO caught on camera repeatedly kicking his…
-
Debauchery in the desert: Wife-swapping. Orgy tents. Drugs…
-
Toddler becomes internet sensation after video of her…
-
Outrage over Kardashian sisters ‘TEXTING’ and chatting at…
-
Chilling footage showing a bus driver smoking drugs just…
Comments (98)
what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Find out now