What is the reason for being overweight? Nine out of ten people (or maybe even 99 out of 100) will easily answer this question: overeating and insufficient exercise. Of course, elementary logic convinces us that the less we move, the less calories we spend, and therefore, the more we save. But scientific research provides more and more evidence that in reality everything is exactly the opposite: the more excess weight we gain, the less we want to play sports, and indeed, to actively move. A study by American scientists published in the journal Cell Metabolism shows how being overweight makes us lazier.
When scientists specially fed mice to obesity, they found a decrease in the activity of a certain type of dopamine receptor in the region of the brain responsible for controlling movement and seeking pleasure. At the same time, they noticed that the obese mice had markedly reduced levels of physical activity compared to normal-weight mice.
When scientists disabled these same receptors in thin mice, they also lost interest in running in a wheel or even simply moving around the cage. However, the decrease in activity level did not lead to excess weight. When the researchers were able to increase the susceptibility of dopamine receptors in obese mice, they were able to simultaneously raise their level of physical activity.
So scientists have shown how excess weight can affect the functioning of the brain and block the sense of reward that movement gives us. For mice of normal weight, constant mobility is natural. But as soon as this mobility ceases to stimulate the centers of pleasure, mice suddenly turn into extremely lazy creatures.
In humans, like mice, the activity of dopamine receptors can be very different and, most likely, the same thing happens to us: the more excess weight we gain, the less our pleasure centers respond to physical activity, which means that it is more difficult for us keep your promises to yourself that you go to the gym regularly or do your daily runs.
But if adults can, at least, gather their will into a fist and force themselves to indulge in sports, then with children everything is more complicated - they follow their instincts to a much greater extent than social norms. Obesity Review recently published a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aimed at increasing the physical activity of overweight and obese children. The authors of the work come to a disappointing conclusion: all attempts to get obese children to move more not only did not lead to weight loss, but they did not even lead to an increase in their level of physical activity - neither in the short nor in the long term. Scientists' conclusion: the current methods of fighting childhood obesity by increasing physical activity (remember Michelle Obama's “Let's get moving” campaign?) Are not effective and are not supported by evidence. A different approach is required.
All this, of course, does not mean that physical education and sports are useless. A wealth of scientific evidence shows that regular exercise reduces the risks of a wide range of diseases and helps improve many vital health indicators: glycemic control, blood pressure, lipid profile. But if you are overweight, then playing sports is likely to cause you persistent disgust. You shouldn't blame yourself for this - it's just that your brain refuses to waste energy, not getting any pleasure for it. In addition, sports are almost useless as a method of losing weight.
Truly fighting excess weight requires a radical overhaul of your diet. And when the kilograms start to go away, then sports will seem to you not only useful, but also much more enjoyable.
