Both animals and humans can be influenced to eat more than they need by cues in their surroundings. Seeing others eat or smelling delicious food can prompt overeating, even when hunger isn’t present.
This behavior, driven by social and environmental triggers, plays a role in the rise of obesity and related health problems such as heart disease and cancer.
A recent study, led by Dr. Mike Kendig from the University of Technology Sydney, explored the science behind these cues.
Collaborating with Associate Professor Laura Corbit from the University of Toronto, Dr. Kendig reviewed decades of research to understand how these triggers affect eating behaviors, brain activity, and chemical systems.
The study, published in the journal Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, sheds light on the factors driving overeating and offers insights into preventing it.
Dr. Kendig emphasized the importance of recognizing these environmental cues, especially during times like the festive season when celebrations, social gatherings, and abundant food tempt people to overindulge.
“It’s essential to understand how cues influence our eating habits so we can create better strategies to prevent overeating and promote healthier food choices,” he said.
The research covered a wide range of studies, from early behavioral observations to advanced experiments using pharmacological and neural techniques. Key findings reveal that animals and humans alike are heavily influenced by their surroundings when it comes to eating.
For example, animals that are already full will begin eating again if they see a hungry companion eating. Similarly, when animals are housed in groups, they tend to eat more, as seen in pigs and cows. Interestingly, animals are more likely to try new foods when another animal—sometimes even of a different species—is eating nearby.
Social dynamics also play a significant role in feeding behavior. In groups, dominant animals, like pigs, consume more food, and eating can even help establish social hierarchies. For instance, chickens follow a strict pecking order, with the most dominant birds eating first.
In humans, these findings have parallels. Environments filled with a variety of tempting food options or social situations involving food can lead to overeating.
The concept of an “obesogenic environment” describes how modern advances in technology and food production have made overeating easier while discouraging physical activity. Such environments are thought to be a major driver of the global rise in obesity, as they amplify the effects of external eating cues.
While some of these cues might seem subtle, they can have a significant impact over time. Even small, repeated episodes of eating slightly more than necessary can lead to weight gain. These behaviors, observed in animals, are not so different from those seen in humans.
For example, social gatherings often encourage people to eat more than they would on their own, and a variety of food choices can make it hard to resist overeating.
By understanding the triggers that lead to overeating, researchers hope to find ways to counteract these effects and promote healthier eating habits. Identifying and addressing these external cues could play a crucial role in tackling obesity and improving public health.
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The research findings can be found in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.
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