Social Isolation is Associated With Altered Neural Reactivity to the Sight of Food

Summary

A study published in JAMA Network Open examined how perceived social isolation affects the brain’s response to food and related eating behaviors in women. Researchers found that women who felt more socially isolated showed altered neural activity when viewing pictures of food, particularly in brain networks involved in appetite, motivation, decision-making, and attention (default mode, executive control, and visual attention networks).

The study included 93 women aged 18–50. Participants completed assessments of loneliness, diet quality, eating behaviors, food cravings, food addiction, resilience, and mental health. They also underwent fMRI scans while viewing images of sweet, savory, healthy, and unhealthy foods.

Key findings showed that women with high perceived loneliness:

• Had higher body fat percentages

• Consumed lower-quality diets

• Reported more emotional and reward-driven eating, stronger food cravings, and higher food addiction scores

• Experienced more anxiety and depression symptoms

• Had lower psychological resilience

Brain imaging revealed that lonely women had stronger neural responses to food cues—especially sweet foods, which are more psychologically rewarding. These altered responses appear to mediate the link between loneliness, unhealthy eating patterns, and increased body fat.

Overall, the study suggests that social isolation may contribute to obesity and maladaptive eating through changes in brain function and emotional regulation. The authors emphasize that effective obesity interventions must consider an individual’s psychological and social environment—not just diet alone. 
Read full Article here : https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/social-isolation-is-associated-with-altered-neural-reactivity-to-the-sight-of-food/