New Study Shows Link Between Loneliness, Food Cravings, and Mental Health
A recent study from UCLA Health has shed light on the connection between loneliness, food cravings, and mental health in women. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, found that women who reported feeling lonely showed increased activity in brain regions associated with food cravings and motivation to eat, particularly when presented with images of high-calorie foods.
Lead researcher Arpana Gupta, co-director of the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center at UCLA, wanted to explore the negative impacts of loneliness, especially as people continue to work remotely after the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also aimed to understand how the brain interacts with social isolation, eating habits, and mental health.
The study included 93 women who were divided into two groups based on their scores on a perceived social isolation scale. Women with higher levels of social isolation were found to have higher fat mass, lower diet quality, greater cravings for high-calorie foods, and increased levels of anxiety and depression.
MRI scans recorded participants’ brain activity as they viewed images of food and non-food items. The researchers discovered that women in the group with higher levels of social isolation displayed greater activation in brain regions associated with a desire to eat sugary foods and less activation in the brain region linked to self-control of eating behaviors.
Lead author Xiaobei Zhang emphasized the importance of breaking the cycle of unhealthy eating habits and negative mental health symptoms. The researchers suggested holistic mind-body interventions, such as practicing self-compassion and making healthier food choices, as potential solutions.
Gupta plans to focus future research on analyzing biological markers like metabolites, the microbiome, and inflammatory signatures associated with loneliness. The findings of this study highlight the need for more awareness and support for individuals experiencing loneliness and its impact on overall health and well-being.