In an experiment, mice subjected to a three-day "alcoholic weekend" were found to eat significantly more food than mice that stayed sober. The results, published in the journal Nature Communications on Tuesday, show that major components of the brain's feeding circuits are activated by alcohol, the researchers said. Also read: Scientists find clues to why binge-drinking causes binge-eatingConsumption of alcohol has previously been linked to overeating in humans, but the underlying causes were unclear--particularly since alcohol is high in calories, and calorie intake usually suppresses brain appetite signals. Burdakov said his study found that specific hunger-promoting brain cells known as Agrp neurons, which form part of the feeding circuit in mouse brains, are activated by alcohol. Obesity and heavy drinking are major causes of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic health problems affecting millions of people worldwide.

Source: India Today January 18, 2017 06:54 UTC