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Binge Eating and Monkeys
Interesting! A study conducted at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta provides insight into the reinforcing nature of binge eating.
Researchers wanted to better understand the comforting function of binge eating. They compared eating patterns between “popular” and “unpopular” monkeys. At first, the less popular monkeys ate less. However, when monkey junk food (banana pellets) was introduced, the less popular monkeys ate significantly more than popular monkeys.
They ate banana pellets all day and throughout the night.
Why did this happen?
Researchers believe the junk food blocked the monkeys’ stress responses. They felt comforted by the junk food despite their loneliness and lack of popularity. Snacking activated the reward pathways in the brain, providing a comforting feeling, reinforcing brain chemicals that had decreased due to stress. Overeating the banana pellets allowed the stressed out monkeys to feel better emotionally and biologically!
What do monkeys have to do with people?
The findings suggest that binge eating does provide temporary relief.
Does this information help? Can the monkeys debunk some myths about binge eating?
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