Research conducted by scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and published in the journal ‘Gut Microbes’, has shown that a high-quality marriage reduces the risk of obesity through its effects on the brain, gut, and hormones, including oxytocin, known as the ‘love hormone’, according to ‘Medical Express’. This study is the first to link strong social relationships with appetite and weight through a common pathway between the brain and the digestive system.
The study involved approximately 100 individuals from the Los Angeles area, who provided data on their marital status, body mass index, diet, and income level, along with detailed assessments of the emotional support they receive. Unmarried participants, whether they had social support or not, displayed completely different brain patterns.
Brain imaging scans revealed that individuals in supportive relationships showed stronger activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), responsible for controlling desires and restraint while viewing food images. This activity reflects a greater ability to resist food temptations and avoid overeating.
The effect was not limited to the brain. Stool analyses of participants showed that those with strong social support experienced positive changes in tryptophan metabolites, which are molecules produced by gut bacteria that control inflammation, immunity, energy balance, and serotonin production, linked to mood. These findings suggest that supportive relationships enhance gut microbial health and reduce obesity-related responses.
Researchers also found that married individuals with high emotional support had higher levels of oxytocin compared to unmarried individuals. This discovery supports the idea that the love hormone plays a biological role beyond emotions and affection, becoming a factor in obesity prevention.
The study indicates that long-term marriage acts as ‘continuous training’ for behavioral regulation, requiring partners to overcome destructive tendencies and prioritize long-term goals, skills that may extend to managing eating habits and appetite control. This research opens the door to integrating social relationships into obesity prevention and treatment programs, alongside diet and exercise.
Church noted, ‘Positive relationships are not only important for our mental health; they are an essential part of our biological system’. Despite the promising results, the study has some weaknesses that necessitate further research, such as being based on a single point in time, preventing definitive causal relationships. Additionally, most participants were overweight or married, and older than the unmarried participants, which may affect the results. Nonetheless, the discovery is intriguing, as ‘love’ could be one of the secrets to weight control.
