TABLE FOR ONE! –
April; 9, 2024 – Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), UCLA Health researchers observed that when shown images of food, especially sweet treats, the brains of lonely individuals showed heightened activity in regions associated with processing internal states. This imbalance in brain function may help explain why people who feel socially isolated are more likely to engage in unhealthy eating behaviors, such as having intense food cravings, using food as a reward, and even displaying signs of food addiction. The study found that these altered brain responses were associated with a higher body fat percentage in lonely individuals.
But the impact of loneliness goes beyond just physical health. Researchers also discovered that the brain changes linked to social isolation were associated with poorer mental health outcomes, including increased anxiety and reduced positive emotions and psychological resilience. This suggests that loneliness may create a vicious cycle, where unhealthy eating behaviors are used as a coping mechanism for dealing with the negative feelings that arise from feeling disconnected from others.
