Once Lean Always Lean (well not quite, but....)

Yet another study on tryptophan and eating behaviors. My comments follow.

1: Eat Behav. 2009 Jan;10(1):36-41. Epub 2008 Oct 30.
Acute tryptophan depletion and sweet food consumption by overweight adults.

Pagoto SL, Spring B, McChargue D, Hitsman B, Smith M, Appelhans B, Hedeker D.
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
Serotonergic involvement has been implicated in preferential consumption of treat foods. We tested the effect of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on food consumption by overweight and lean adults with and without a history of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD). ATD and taste-matched placebo challenges were administered double-blind in counter-balanced order. Participants were classified as lean (n=36) or overweight (n=19) on the basis of body mass index (BMI). Total calorie, carbohydrate, protein, and sweet food consumption were assessed via a test meal 8-h following ATD. Four food items of comparable palatability were offered as a part of the test: two sweet (one carbohydrate-rich, and one protein-rich) and two non-sweet (one carbohydrate-rich, and one protein-rich). As compared to the placebo challenge, ATD significantly increased sweet calorie intake among overweight participants and increased their propensity to consume sweet food first before any other type of food. Lean participants' sweet calorie intake and food preference were unaffected by ATD. Findings suggest serotonergic involvement in the sweet food consumption by overweight individuals.



So what do we have here? To break it down for the non-scientists: Researchers found that overweight people have a sweet tooth! After they were depleted of tryptophan (which is the feel good chemical involved in serotonin formation) overweight people found the temptation to eat sweets overwhelming. They gorged on sweet things until, presumably, that tryptophan imbalance was corrected. And what about lean people? They didn't feel affected by the tryptophan depletion. They ate pretty much normally.

So the bottom line is if you are fat (I'm going to cut the formalities here, as I have some cake waiting for me, lol) then you are going to have to battle cravings which have a very strong biological basis. Your own body is working against you in a way. It WILL BE HARDER to fight against the current of indulgence early on in your pursuits to slim down.

But is that where our story ends? A song of defeat and an invitation to gorge and claim that you're helpless against the beast and that you are a victim? NOPE.

The take home message I get from it is this: Your battle early on will be hard won. But once you get your weight under control those beasts that once dictated your every thought, those little goblins that kept tempting you with sweets will be banished to their own little hell, leaving you FREE to feel complete and utter contentment with a balanced eating plan.

In other words, what was once thought an eternal struggle against cravings is now clear evidence that once you make it over the hill you will have a reset sense of serenity that will no longer need to be fed sugars to feel satiated. Tighten down your bootstraps knowing there is a craving-free pot of satisfaction at the end of your weightloss rainbow.