A device that targets the brain has been shown to reduce cravings.
It’s easy to eat one-too-many candies at Halloween or to swallow down an extra piece of pie or two for Thanksgiving dessert. Tasty but unnecessary, these indulgences no doubt lead to a larger waistline at some point. For many, however, this is about it. Nothing else happens. Overeating isn’t something most people deal with regularly.
For others, however, eating too much can become a disorder with dire consequences. An estimated 2.8 million Americans, or about 1.25% of American women and 0.42% of American men, identify as binge eaters. This practice is said to be the most common eating disorder in the US according to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). It can lead to health problems associated with obesity, as well as mental health problems and trouble socializing normally.
Addressing eating disorders like binge eating can involve complex treatments. Scientists say they’ve discovered a new one that involves stimulating your brain at its most precious depths, targeting your cravings at their source.
Binge eating involves eating a lot of food in a short period of time.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) defines binge eating as something you do if you eat large amounts of food in a short period of time. It also involves the idea that you can’t really control yourself. Someone who binge eats regularly, (at least once per week for about 3 months), is defined as having this type of disorder.
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Many people who binge eat don’t like the fact that they do. They try to hide the habit from those closest to them. Binge eating is more common among people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and those who are obese, but it can really affect anyone. Thankfully, help is out there.
New research targets food cravings in your brain
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have invented a small device that identifies when your brain is having a food craving, if you’re a binge eater. When this happens, the device stimulates this area of your brain electronically. The electrical stimulation stops the binge eating signal and disrupts your behavior. It’s an invention that’s been used in patients who suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy, in other ways. The device targets the nucleus accumbens, a specific region in your brain, and has resulted in success. When used in patients over six months, this approach was seen to promote weight loss and resulted in fewer binging episodes.
“This was a beautiful demonstration of how translational science can work in the best of cases,” said study co-lead author Camarin Rolle, PhD. Rolle is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.
Researchers say that more work needs to be done to apply the treatment widely. This being said, they believe their findings look promising.
If you or someone you know binge eats, talk to your doctor about getting help. It’s possible to stop and helpful treatments are out there. Starting the conversation is the first step.
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