Are Women Just Programmed to Eat More Than Needed?

This may not be great news for women who aspire to have an hour glass figure as a recent research suggests that women are programmed to eat more. They are also prone to eating disorders.

A study of rats is perhaps the first to point out that female rats are six times more likely to binge on sugary food as compared to their male counterparts. There are sex differences in rates of binge eating in animals and it has implications for humans.

Bulimia Nervosa

The term ''Bulimia'' refers to episodes of uncontrolled excessive eating, known as "binges," followed by self-induced vomiting or purgation.

This study could have implications on humans as they say women are biologically wired to eat more and are susceptible to eating disorders.

Those who binge eat, end up consuming unusually large amounts of food and are unable to control during the binges. The risk of binge eating disorders is 10 times more for women, experts said.

Deep Brain Stimulation Reduces Binge Eating Behavior

In mice, stimulating a region of the brain involved in reward was found to decrease binge eating behavior, states study published in The Journal of Neuroscience.

Psychologist Professor Kelly Klump, of Michigan State University, said: 'Most theories of why eating disorders are so much more prevalent in females than males focus on the increased cultural and psychological pressure that girls and women face. But this study suggests biological factors likely contribute as well, since female rats do not experience the psychosocial pressures that humans do, such as pressures to be thin. This research suggests there is probably a biological difference between males and females that we need to explore to understand risk factors and mechanisms.'

Source: Medindia