June 12, 2023

expert reaction to study suggesting brain responses to specific nutrients are diminished in individuals with obesity and are not improved after weight loss

A study published in Nature Metabolism looks at brain responses to nutrients after weight loss in humans with obesity.

Prof Naveed Sattar, Professor of Metabolic Medicine, University of Glasgow, said:

“This is very interesting work and but whether 12 weeks of weight loss is sufficient to change the stomach’s reaction to food or its shape and size is not known and such changes will influence the signals it sends to the brain.  Similarly, brain adaptations may take time. So, this work needs to be repeated in those who manage to maintain weight loss for at least 6 months to say the changes are long-lasting. They may be but more work is needed to confirm.”

‘Brain responses to nutrients are severely impaired and not reversed by weight loss in humans with obesity: a randomized crossover study’ by Katy A. van Galen et al. was published in Nature Metabolism at 16:00 UK time on Monday 12 June 2023.

DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00816-9

Declared interests

Prof Naveed Sattar: “Have consulted for several companies who make weight loss medications.”