To lose weight, the only body part you need to be most concerned with isn’t your belly, butt or thighs, it’s your
BRAIN.
The brain is your command and control center. It’s how you make
good or bad decisions about behavior and food and tells you:
• What, when and how much to eat.
• What to buy at the grocery store or order in a restaurant.
• When and how often to exercise.
The Problem
Most diets fail because they take a one-size-fits-all approach. Our work with
SPECT imaging has shown us that there are
multiple types of overeaters:
Introducing the Type 3 Overeater: Impulsive-Compulsive
People with this type have a combination of both impulsive and compulsive features. On the surface it seems almost contradictory, but people can be both impulsive and compulsive at the same time (think of the compulsive gambler, who cannot stop focusing on placing a bet and has no restraint to prevent him from doing it).
• These people often think about food all day long
• Many people with bulimia have this type
• This type is particularly common in children and grandchildren of alcoholics or people who have a significant family history of alcoholism
SPECT scans of impulsive – compulsive overeaters tend to show:
• Too much activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus, so people get stuck on their thoughts.
• Too little activity in the prefrontal cortex, so they have trouble putting on the brakes and saying, “no.”
The high activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus is associated with low serotonin levels while the low activity in the prefrontal cortex is likely due to low dopamine levels.
People with impulsive – compulsive overeating therefore, do best with treatments that raise both serotonin and dopamine (using serotonin or dopamine interventions by themselves usually makes the problem worse). It is also very important to strengthen the prefrontal cortex and practice strategies to increase mental flexibility and “get unstuck.”
Keep the Weight Off for Good
The Amen Clinics Method—developed through 26 years of clinical practice—uses a detailed clinical history, SPECT imaging to understand brain function, neuropsychological testing and laboratory studies to target treatment specifically to your brain using the least toxic, most effective means.
If you, or someone you love, could benefit from an evaluation at Amen Clinics, call our brain health advisors today at 888-288-9834 or
tell us more online.
