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An article in the Sept. 15 issue of Medical News Today confirms what we thought we already knew: That our brain is to blame after getting back on board with a diet after indulging! Researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center are suggesting that fat from certain foods we eat makes it way to the brain and then cause the brain to send messages to the body’s cells warning them to ignore the body’s appetite-suppressing signals from hormones involved in weight regulation.

A particular type of fat, called palmitic acid, is particular crafty in accomplishing this, researchers have found. According to senior author of the study Dr. Deborah Clegg, this hormonal reaction essentially causes us to overeat after eating something good, an effect that can last about three days.

“What we’ve shown in this study is that someone’s entire brain chemistry can change in a very short period of time. Our findings suggest that when you eat something high in fat, your brain gets ‘hit’ with the fatty acids, and you become resistant to insulin and leptin,” Dr. Clegg said. “Since you’re not being told by the brain to stop eating, you overeat.”

So, what is palmitic acid anyway? It’s a common saturated fatty acid found in foods such as butter, milk, cheese and beef. That helps explain why after eating some really tasty ice cream or steak why we tend to crave even more food later. The next step in the study is determining how long it takes to reverse the effects of short-term exposure to high-fat food.

The study suggests that the best way to continue to stay on the path of healthy-eating and weight control (before or after a weight-loss surgery) is to continue to make appropriate food choices and avoid foods that can set you on the path of overeating. Whether it’s your brains fault or not, it’s still up to you to choose which foods to eat!