Falcon powers – Loneliness has a negative impact on our health, but when loneliness is coupled with living in a socially and climatically cold society, it can lead to physical and psychological problems, especially for women and girls who may experience weight gain even when engaging in exercise or dieting.
Researchers have also discovered that the feeling of loneliness can have a direct negative effect on eating habits and calorie burning in the body. They sought to answer the question of how loneliness affects the brain.
The study conducted by researcher Ziabai Zhang showed that women who feel lonely exhibit brain activity in areas associated with a strong desire for food, along with brain signals of laziness and inactivity.
The study, published in the medical journal JAMA NETWORK OPEN, revealed that when images of food, especially desserts and calorie-rich foods, were shown to lonely and isolated women, increased activity was observed in brain regions associated with eating disorders, and a decrease in activity was observed in the brain’s control region.
It was noticed that the control over the desire to eat when seeing sweets and appetizing foods was extremely weak.
Researchers considered this phenomenon to be attributed to the constant state of stimulation and lack of trust in the individuals and environment surrounding those who experience loneliness, which makes them in need of more energy.
The study was based on indicators and calculations, involving 93 women aged between 18 and 50. Body mass index (BMI) was measured, and 39 women reported feeling lonely and experiencing weight gain without being able to control it.
