No matter how full you may feel after having a delicious meal, you somehow find desserts like ice cream, cakes, and sweets hard to resist and end up indulging. Ever wondered why you seem to have that extra room in your stomach for dessert, even after having a big meal?
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Germany discovered that the reason behind why we crave desserts after a meal actually lies in our brain. This study monitored the reactions of mice to sugar. The mice were given their usual food, which contained about 3% sugar, and ate as much as they wanted for about 90 minutes. Later, they were either offered more of the same food or sweet pellets that contained 35% sugar. The researchers discovered that the mice ate sugar pellets even when they were completely satiated.
How Does Sugar Interact with the Brain?
Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons found in the hypothalamus helps the body feel the sense of fullness after eating. These neurons produce an appetite-stimulating opioid: β-endorphin, that drives sugar consumption even when they are full.[1] It also triggered a feeling of reward. By suppressing the release of this endorphin, the mice stopped eating sugar completely.
Is the Effect the Same in Humans?
In humans, the researchers conducted brain scans on volunteers who consumed sugar solution with the help of a tube. They reported that the same region of the brain that contain the neurons with opiate receptors reacted to the sugar similar to what was observed in the mice experiment. The findings of this study, published in the journal Science, could also potentially help in the treatment of people with obesity.
According to Henning Fenselau, the lead researcher of the study, the brains are wired to ensure we consume sugar whenever possible. Many drugs that block the opiate receptors in the brain are already available, but the weight loss is not that effective. He suggests a combination of opiate receptors with appetite-suppressant therapies may be useful. However, further investigation is needed.
Now that the "dessert stomach" theory is backed by science, we can blame our brains for the cravings instead of feeling guilty.
References:
Minère, Marielle, Hannah Wilhelms, Bojana Kuzmanovic, Sofia Lundh, Debora Fusca, Alina Claßen, Stav Shtiglitz, et al. "Thalamic Opioids from POMC Satiety Neurons Switch on Sugar Appetite." Science 387, no. 6735 (2025): 750–758.
"‘Dessert Stomach’ Is Real, Scientists Find." Newsweek, February 20, 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/dessert-stomach-real-brain-neurons-mice-2030775.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Nethra Suryanarayanan/SSK)