Obesity Linked to Sluggish Reward Center in Brain

NEW HAVEN, Conn.—Obese people overeat because the reward center of their brain is less active, so more food is needed to satisfy them, according to a new study published in Science. According to Canada.com, the study found that the dopamine-releasing part of the brain is less active in obese individuals. "We think what's really going on is, if you consume a diet rich in fat and sugar, you get down regulation of the reward circuitry," study researcher Eric Stice said. "By flooding the brain with dopamine your brain adjusts to having fewer receptors." That means it takes more food to experience the same "high" as lean people.