Researchers have found a scientific reason behind why people can't stop picking up another potato chip after eating the first one.
Have you noticed that once you open a bag of potato chips, it's impossible to have just one chip and put the rest away? It's like a reflex action that you reach out for another one. Have you ever wondered why? Researchers discovered a scientific reason behind why people can't stop at just one chip.
The study was conducted by Tobias Hoch, Ph.D. and was presented at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society. According to Hoch, the phenomenon takes place because of a condition called "hedonic hyperphagia" which is known to affect thousands of people without them being aware of it.
"That's the scientific term for 'eating to excess for pleasure, rather than hunger,'" Hoch said. "It's recreational over-eating that may occur in almost everyone at some time in life. And the chronic form is a key factor in the epidemic of overweight and obesity that here in the United States threatens health problems for two out of every three people."
During the study, a group of laboratory rats were allowed to feast on potato chips. With the help of high-tech magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, researchers looked into the rats' brain to see their activities.
Researchers termed this as "recreational over-eating" and said it's a major problem among Americans of which two-thirds are obese. Researchers also found that in spite of a full stomach people are still attracted to potato chips because of its high quantity of fats and carbohydrates.The fats and carbohydrates send a pleasing message to the brain. What made the authors of the study even more curious was the fact that even when rats were fed the same quantity of fats and carbohydrates as in potato chips, they still seemed more attracted to the potato chips.
"The effect of potato chips on brain activity, as well as feeding behavior, can only partially be explained by its fat and carbohydrate content," Hoch said. "There must be something else in the chips that make them so desirable."
Chips and other foods affect the reward center in the brain and Hoch said there is no evidence at this time to add ingredients to healthful, albeit rather unpopular, foods like brussel sprouts to affect the rewards center in the brain positively.