American scientists from the University of Georgia have discovered an unexpected link between obesity and anxiety-related behavior. Experiments on mice showed that a high-fat diet not only leads to weight gain but also alters brain activity and the composition of gut bacteria. The findings were presented at the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) conference in Orlando.
During the experiments, rodents fed a high-fat diet exhibited more anxiety-like behaviors than those in the control group.
Scientists observed changes in the hypothalamus—the part of the brain responsible for regulating metabolism—and found significant differences in the gut microbiome.
“These findings offer new insights into the relationship between obesity and mental health,” said project leader Dr. Desiree Wanders.
Although the study was conducted on animals, the authors emphasize the importance of the findings for understanding similar processes in humans—particularly in children and adolescents. The researchers plan to continue their work by exploring whether the observed changes can be reversed through weight normalization.
