title: Brain imaging demonstrates a reduced neural impact of eating in obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated functional brain response differences to food in women with BMI either <25 kg/m(2) (lean) or >35 kg/m(2) (severe obesity).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty women, 18-65 years old, from academic medical centers participated. Baseline brain perfusion was measured with arterial spin labeling. Brain activity was measured via blood-oxygen-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging in response to food cues, and appeal to cues was rated. Subjective hunger/fullness was reported pre- and post-imaging. After a standard meal, measures were repeated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When fasting, brain perfusion did not differ significantly between groups; and both groups showed significantly increased activity in the neo- and limbic cortices and midbrain compared with baseline (P < 0.05, family-wise-error whole-brain corrected). Once fed, the lean group showed significantly decreased activation in these areas, especially the limbic cortex, whereas the group with severe obesity showed no such decreases (P < 0.05, family-wise-error whole-brain corrected). After eating, appeal ratings of food decreased only in lean women. Within groups, hunger decreased (P < 0.001) and fullness increased (P < 0.001) fasted to fed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While fasting, brain response to food cues in women did not differ significantly despite BMI. After eating, brain activity quickly diminished in lean women but remained elevated in women with severe obesity. These brain activation findings confirm previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.|Department of Surgery, Veterans Administration North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, Texas, USA.|Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Puzziferri
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.|Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zigman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.|Advanced Imaging Research Center and the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Binu P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Perry
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mihalakos
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lutter
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carmody
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.|Advanced Imaging Research Center and the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Hanzhang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tamminga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult