Are You an Overeater?



Are you an overeater?  If so, do you know why?  Well, it may have started in your brain.  Daniel Amen, M.D., one of the world's most well-known neuropsychiatrists, has recently come out with provocative new research linking eating habits to the efficiency of our frontal lobe in the brain.  Your frontal lobe is responsible for higher reasoning and logic and, because of this, Amen argues that it plays a vital role in the ability to make good food choices.  While conducting a research study linking depression and anxiety with the frontal lobe, he observed a connection with obesity.  He noticed as his subjects began implementing at-home therapeutic strategies, they not only experienced less depression and anxiety, but lost between ten and thirty pounds over 12-weeks without conscious effort.  Amen has noticed that neurological scans showed the size and the function of the brain diminishes as BMI (body mass index) is raised.  Based on this research it shows how important it is to keep our weight in a healthy range to also keep our brain healthy.

Dr. Daniel Amen

Based on his findings, Amen discusses five types of brain patterns that affect eating habits:  compulsive overeater, impulsive overeater, impulsive-compulsive overeater, sad or emotional overeater, and anxious overeater.  Here are brief descriptions of each.

1. Compulsive Overeater - Dwells on food that "calls their name" and feels compulsively driven to eat.  Research links this type of behavior with too much activity on the front of the brain which allows the brain to shift gears and is generally coupled with low serotonin levels.  Exercise can help boost serotonin levels in the brain.
2. Impulsive Overeater - Tends to have poor impulse control and is easily distracted.  This type of overeater tends to have low activity in the area of the brain that acts as the "brake" and typically has low levels of dopamine.  A high-protein, low-carb diet in conjuction with exercise has been shown to help the impulsive overeater.
3. Impulsive-Compulsive Overeater - Compelled to eat, typically dwells on negative thoughts, and has little control over their impulses.  Increasing both dopamine and serotonin levels through exercise and drinking green tea have been shown beneficial.
4. Sad or Emotional Overeater - Tends to overeat to medicate feelings.  This type of overeater typically struggles with depression, low self-esteem, low energy, and pain symptoms.  Exercise will help, as well as a diet rich in vitamin D and fish oils.
5. Anxious Overeater - Medicates anxiety or nervousness with food and is known to have low levels of GABA (an important neurotransmitter in the brain).  While medication can help lower anxiety levels, a diet high in B vitamins and magnesium also helps this type of overeater.

See anything familiar?  Most anyone who struggles with their weight can find themselves in one or more of these categories.  If weight is a struggle for you, it might be more of a question of "how strong is your willpower".  Exercise can help your brain to choose healthier foods and create less of a battle in your head. 

Still unsure of which category you may be in and how to "fix it"? Come in to PROMATx Health Club and talk with our nutrition specialist.  It may not be your actions but how you are "wired"!  Learn how to "re-wire" your brain today!!