Weight loss surgery 're-shapes' the brain: People who undergo the procedure are less attracted to food

Weight-loss surgery helps to 're-wire' the brain, leaving people less interested in food, a study has found.

Scientists in the U.S. examined MRI scans of patients who chose various different methods to shed the pounds. They discovered the brain reacts differently to images of food once the weight has been lost, depending on the method used, the Daily Mail reported.

Sixteen people who lost weight via dieting and 15 who had undergone bariatric surgery took part in the new research. They were of similar age, education level, and importantly had similar BMI's - body mass indices.

The study, carried out at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, compared those who lost weight after bariatric surgery, and those who opted for more conventional dieting methods.

Following their weight loss, when confronted with images of pizza and other appetising food, scientists noticed the brains of the dieters were more active in the medical prefrontal cortex - the part of the brain known to regulate emotion and evaluate how we feel.

On the other hand, people who undergo laparoscopic banding surgery appear to be more 'disconnected' from hunger pangs. 'They're not as interested in eating,' said lead author Amanda Bruce, psychologist at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

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