A new study has shed more light onto how the gut signals the brain to stop eating. The vagus nerve, which connects the gut to the brain, contains many different nerve types within it. This new study found that instead of nerves which transmit hormones, it is nerves that sense the stretch of your intestines which send the strongest satiety signals. This study can help us understand why bariatric surgery is so effective, and potentially help treat eating disorders.
Key Takeaways:
- The vagus nerve communicates with the brain and intestines, and it is a large factor in controlling our eating habits.
- In mice, stretch receptors in the intestines were shown to have a larger impact on when mice felt hungry or did not feel hungry.
- The new insights highlights that stretch receptors may be a reason as to why people maintain weight loss after bariatric surgery.
“The prevailing belief has been that hormone-sensitive nerve endings in the gut keep track of nutrients we ingest and initiate signaling when we have eaten enough.”