A new cause of increased sugar cravings has been found

Observing others eating can encourage overeating, but this only happens with sweet foods. This effect is related to the brain's dopamine system. This conclusion was reached by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine. The research results are published in the journal Nature Communications (NatCom).

During the experiment, scientists divided mice into hungry and satiated groups, then placed them next to each other so they could see their "neighbors" but couldn't interact with them. The satiated animals remained indifferent if nearby individuals ate regular food or fatty food. However, when their fellows consumed sweet food, even the satiated mice began to eat actively - within the first hour.

This effect disappeared when the animals were given drugs that block dopamine receptors. According to scientists, these receptors - D1 and D2 - play a key role in stimulating appetite when seeing others eat. According to the scientists, the work of the two types of receptors triggers the reward mechanism in the brain.

"When D1 and D2 are activated, the brain receives a signal: 'This is pleasant, repeat it.' Simply observing someone eating can provoke overeating, even if you are not physically hungry," explained the research leader Dr. Yong Xu.

The researchers noted that in the modern world, tempting images of food surround people everywhere - in advertising, social media, and on screens. Understanding how visual and social stimuli affect behavior can be a step toward forming healthier habits and creating new ways to combat overeating.