Brain's 'calorie counter' tells us to consume high calorie food

A new neuro-imaging study has suggested that people consumed high calories food in spite knowing that it is high calorie, as the study has brought to light that, while thinking of food, an internal calorie in our brain counter was able to evaluate each food based on its caloric density.

Study author Alain Dagher, neurologist at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital found that brain activity had tracked the true caloric content of foods as their consumption was largely governed by the anticipated effects of these foods, which are likely learned through experience.

For the study, he took 29 healthy participants who were asked to examine pictures of 50 familiar foods and the findings suggested that they could accurately judge the number of calories in the various foods, and yet, the amount participants were willing to bid on the food in a simulated auction that matched up with the foods that actually had higher caloric content.

According to Dagher, understanding the reasons for people's food choices could help to control the factors that lead to obesity, a condition that is linked to many health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

The findings were published in a journal of Psychological Science.