Question:
Better weight loss

Dopamine Receptor Availability Decreased in Morbidly Obese Individuals -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Feb 01 - Brain dopamine D2 receptor availability is inversely related to body mass index (BMI) in obese individuals, report New York investigators. They suggest that strategies, particularly behavioral interventions, to improve dopamine function may assist in weight reduction. Dr. Nora D. Volkow, of Brookhaven National Laboratory, in Upton, and associates performed positron emission tomography (PET) using the radiotracer [C-11] raclopride to measure dopamine D2 receptor availability. The subjects were 10 severely obese individuals with BMI between 42 and 60, and 10 control subjects with BMI between 21 and 28. Measures of striatal dopamine D2 receptor availability were significantly lower in obese individuals than in control subjects, the investigators report in the February 3rd issue of The Lancet. In obese individuals, but not in controls, the D2 receptor measures were negatively correlated with BMI. "We previously found that subjects addicted to drugs have a reduction of dopamine D2 receptors in the brain," Dr. Volkow explained to Reuters Health. "The abnormalities we observed in pathologically obese individuals were very similar." However the investigators cannot tell from these results whether the observed brain changes are a consequence or a cause of the obesity. According to Dr. Volkow, the findings indicate that morbidly obese subjects have a "decreased sensitivity in the brain's 'reward centers' to behaviors that normally produce pleasure. Therapies should be targeted to enhance the sensitivity to other behaviors that bring pleasure." In their paper, the authors suggest exercise as a strategy to enhance dopaminergic function. Another suggestion Dr. Volkow makes is increasing social interaction. "Obesity is a really tragic disease. You cannot hide it," she said. This makes it difficult for obese individuals to overcome their tendency to withdraw from people. However, "the sense of belonging to a group, of being accepted," she added, "is highly reinforcing." Lancet 2001;357:354-357.    — blank first name B. (posted on February 22, 2001)

February 22, 2001
Gee, sounds like they think fat people should exercise, now there's a new idea. Studies like this just don't seem helpful to me. I know that I don't experience pleasure till I've eaten a lot. So what, how does that help me lose weight. Oh, I see, I need to exercise more, as we all know, that works every time. Now, if they'd applied the same research to people 3 years post-op, that would be interesting. As it is there's nothing new in this research, just more of the same old same old.
   — [Anonymous]