By JJ Virgin
Ever watched a friend forego German chocolate cake and virtuously nibble on fruit instead? It probably made you think, “how come she’s so healthy and skinny, and I’m desperate for dessert? I want to have her figure and eat my cake!” It turns out there could be a scientific reason why some people can easily push aside sweets and others (especially those who are obese) simply can’t resist.
Researchers at Columbia University found that when obese people were shown pictures of high-calorie foods, it activated the areas of the brain associated with reward, memory, and emotion, making it harder for them to refuse sweet or salty treats. The reaction in non-obese people was much more subtle.
So, if you have a Pavlovian response to French fries or fudge brownies, are you doomed to overindulge?
Not necessarily.
Genetic factors like food triggers and insulin resistance certainly play a role in how you eat and how much you weight, but your genes don’t have to be your destiny. If you commit yourself to retraining your taste buds and rethinking how you eat, you will learn to love the natural sweetness of berries and other good-for-you foods. Keep at it, and one day you could be that fabulously fit friend who doesn’t think twice about skipping dessert.
©2010 JJ Virgin & Associates, Inc. Celebrity nutrition and wellness expert JJVirgin is a media personality, in-demand public speaker and best-selling author of Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy, The 5-Step Plan to Sleek, Strong and Sculpted Arms. Get her biweekly LEANzine chock full of tips to get you slim and sexy fast at http://www.jjvirgin.com.
