Why do some people crave high-calorie foods when stressed while others lose their appetite? Two new studies published in Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology point to the powerful role of gut-brain communication in shaping eating behaviors.
In one study, researchers found that stress from life circumstances can disrupt the brain-gut-microbiome balance. This disruption may alter mood, decision-making and hunger signals, increasing the likelihood of craving and consuming high-calorie foods. The paper examined how social factors such as income, education and health care access, along with biological aspects, interact with the brain-gut-microbiome to influence eating habits and obesity.
Another study focused on adults with disorders of gut-brain interaction and found that more than one-third screened positive for symptoms of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Symptoms include sensory-based food avoidance, lack of interest in eating and fear of aversive consequences. These individuals experienced greater health burdens and reduced quality of life regardless of body mass index.
The key takeaway? These papers show that gut-brain communication is central to eating behavior disorders and that non-biological stressors, like discrimination or past illness, can shape physiological responses.
As the authors concluded, “Clinical tools must address not just what patients eat, but why.”
The stress and obesity study was funded by Tillotts Pharma and Novonesis, with additional support from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
The ARFID study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.