Chocolate Cravings Late at Night? Not A “Health Disease” Is the Cause, But This

Researchers claim that if you have ever spent a night eating chocolates or ice cream, your binge on sweet foods may have been caused by “loneliness.” Research that was published in the JAMA Network Open journal found that loneliness might lead to an intense need for sweet foods. In order to carry out the study, the researchers connected poor mental health, weight gain, cognitive decline, and chronic illnesses including Type 2 diabetes and obesity to the brain chemistry of socially isolated people.

The Justification for Your Midnight Chocolate Needs
Associate Professor Arpana Gupta, the senior research author, said that she was interested in studying the brain circuits linked to obesity, anxiety, and depression, as well as binge eating, which is a coping strategy for loneliness. The findings of the research, which included 93 premenopausal women, showed that a greater body fat percentage was associated with feelings of loneliness or isolation.

They also exhibited unhealthy eating habits, including food addiction and compulsive eating. Researchers observed participant brain activity during abstract visuals of sweet and savory dishes using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The findings showed that those who were alone had increased activity in certain brain areas related to responding to sugar cravings.

The self-control domains had a reduced response from the same subjects. Gupta claims that food cravings akin to “the cravings for social connections” might result from social isolation.