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Did you know that your brain proteins could be the key to regulating your body weight? Recent research has revealed that there are 60 distinct proteins produced in the brain that may play a critical role in regulating body weight.
Let's dive into the details of this exciting study.
Role of Brain Proteins in Body Weight Regulation
In a study undertaken by the Universite Laval and the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute Research Center, almost 800,000 people of European ancestry participated.
The researchers discovered that genetic variables can account for 50-75 percent of the population's BMI variation.
They looked into the relationship between brain proteins and the genetic areas linked to body weight. They discovered that about 60 genes encode proteins that can influence body weight via their expression in the brain.
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The study focused on a brain region called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is thought to be implicated in appetite, satiety, food reward sensitivity, cognitive processes like decision-making, and memory.
The Evolving Food Environment and Genetics
According to lead author Benoit Arsenault, professor at the Universite Laval Faculty of Medicine and researcher at the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, the evolving food environment may have influenced food behavior and energy storage capacity over the past few decades.
According to the researchers, those who have a genetic propensity to having an elevated body weight are heavier than they were in the past, whereas those who do not have this predisposition were slim in the past and are still slender today.
Weight Stigma and Discrimination
Professor Arsenault emphasizes that people living in larger bodies often experience prejudice, discrimination, intimidation, or stigmatization, which could have repercussions on physical and psychological health.
He stresses that factors beyond our control, such as genetics, account for a significant proportion of body weight variation across the population.
Understanding Unconscious Neuronal Mechanisms
The study's findings have shown that brain proteins plays a critical role in regulating body weight, which could explain why BMI varies significantly from one person to another.
"Weight is not a choice. Neither is it a lifestyle habit. We don't have elevated body weight because we are lazy or lack willpower. Unconscious neuronal mechanisms are at play. The brain is the one in charge," says Professor Arsenault.
While this study highlights the link between brain proteins and body weight, there is still much to learn about the biological role of these proteins in various parts of the brain and their contribution to energy homeostasis.
This research paves the way for future studies to explore the potential interaction between the brain proteome and the evolving food environment. The findings also remind us that weight is not a choice, and unconscious neuronal mechanisms are at play.
