Obesity may be linked to obese people not feeling full

An interesting article was published yesterday (June 10, 2009) in the New York Times. The article discusses a study conducted by Dale S. Bond, assistant professor of research at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, R.I. Key findings were as follows:

“This is basically saying that there is a difference in how we respond to food physiologically depending on our weight status,” Dr. Bond said. “It suggests that this habituation process is impaired in people who are obese." Habituation means that saliva production tends to decline in most people once they’ve gotten used to the taste of a certain food and had enough of it.

"They’re not as sensitive to those feelings of fullness, and as a result, they continue to eat longer," he added.

“What we don’t know is whether obese people show this different level of responding before they become obese, or if it is something that happens as you gain weight, and whether it changes with weight loss,” he added.

In other words the more obese you are the more likely it is that you will overeat as your body is not sending you the signals to stop eating as quickly as it does if you are of normal weight. Thus, if you are obese (or not obese for that matter), it is very important to control portion sizes to avoid overeating; additionally, eating the right foods (natural and organic vegetarian foods) and getting regular exercise will assist in controlling weight.