Scientists from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE) have found that overweight people have better mental health and are less prone to risky behaviors after losing weight.
According to Report, the results of the study were published in the Clinical Nutrition journal.
Scientists explained that human behavior depends on many factors. It is regulated not only by the surrounding reality but also by biochemical reactions such as changes in glucose metabolism.
Disruption of carbohydrate metabolism accompanied by severe obesity can lead to the development of impulsivity and an increased desire to take risks.
Risky behavior can be obvious or potentially dangerous to the person him/herself or the people around him/her (sometimes even to society as a whole). Examples of this include alcohol consumption and smoking, drug addiction, and desire to commit crime.
To confirm or deny this claim, scientists recruited 62 overweight people aged 18-75. Participants followed a strict low-calorie diet for 10 weeks. Each participant was weighed at the beginning and end of the study, and their body fat percentage was determined, as well as their willingness to take risks using special tests.
The results showed that losing weight led to a significant improvement in the mood of the participants. In addition, after losing weight, volunteers were more likely to make risk-averse decisions.