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Study Links Neurotensin Deficiency to Obesity and Habitual Overeating

Research reveals that restoring neurotensin levels in mice improves dopamine function, reshaping food-related pleasure and eating behaviors, with potential implications for obesity treatments.

A steady diet of high-fat foods leads to reduced pleasure in eating, likely contributing to obesity. UC Berkeley scientists have discovered why, opening up new possibilities for treating obesity — not by fighting desire, but by restoring desire in a healthier way.
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The researchers then tested ways to restore neurotensin levels. Credit: Neuroscience News
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Overview

  • A University of California-Berkeley study identifies a disrupted brain circuit involving neurotensin and dopamine in obese individuals, reducing the pleasure response to high-fat foods.
  • Low neurotensin levels in obese mice were found to blunt dopamine signaling, diminishing food-related enjoyment and driving habitual overeating.
  • Restoring neurotensin levels in mice through genetic methods or dietary changes improved dopamine function, normalized weight gain, and increased motivation to eat in a balanced way.
  • The findings challenge the assumption that overeating in obesity is purely pleasure-driven, suggesting it is often habitual or emotionally motivated.
  • While the study highlights promising therapeutic strategies targeting neurotensin signaling, further research is needed to confirm its applicability to humans.