Central Role of Cognitive Control Networks in Weight Loss During Voluntary Calorie Restriction

Neseliler, S.; Hu, W.; Larcher, K.; Zacchia, M.; Dadar, M.; Scala, S. G.; Lamarche, M.; Zeighami, Y.; Stotland, S.; Larocque, M.; Marliss, E. B.; Dagher, A.

doi:10.1101/234641

bioRxiv · 10.1101/234641

Central Role of Cognitive Control Networks in Weight Loss During Voluntary Calorie Restriction

Neseliler, S.·Hu, W.·Larcher, K.·Zacchia, M.·Dadar, M.·Scala, S. G.·Lamarche, M.·Zeighami, Y.·Stotland, S.·Larocque, M.·Marliss, E. B.·Dagher, A.

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Abstract

Insufficient responses to hypocaloric diets have been attributed to hormonal adaptations that override self-control of food intake. We tested this hypothesis by measuring brain fMRI reactivity to food cues and circulating energy-balance hormones in 24 overweight/obese participants before, and 1 and 3 months after starting a calorie restriction diet. Increased activity in prefrontal regions at month 1 correlated with weight loss at months 1 and 3. Weight loss was also correlated with increased plasma ghrelin and decreased leptin at month 1, and these changes were associated with greater food cue reactivity in reward-related brain regions. However, the reduction in leptin did not counteract weight loss; indeed, it was correlated with further weight loss at month 3. Activation in a network of prefrontal regions associated with self-control could contribute to individual differences in weight loss and maintenance, whereas we failed to find that the hormonal adaptations play a major role.

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Neseliler, S., Hu, W., Larcher, K., Zacchia, M., Dadar, M., Scala, S. G., Lamarche, M., Zeighami, Y., Stotland, S., Larocque, M., Marliss, E. B., Dagher, A.. 2017-12-15. Central Role of Cognitive Control Networks in Weight Loss During Voluntary Calorie Restriction. https://doi.org/10.1101/234641

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