Research suggests that strong social relationships can influence physical health through specific biological pathways involving the brain and gut. A new study found that married individuals with high-quality relationships tend to have lower body mass indexes and healthier eating behaviors, potentially due to the hormone oxytocin and its interaction with the microbiome. Oxytocin is known to play a role in social bonding and appetite regulation, while a strong social connection can bolster neural circuits required to resist unhealthy food impulses. The study also found that positive social relations are associated with higher levels of beneficial metabolites and lower inflammation.
The researchers recruited 94 participants from the Los Angeles community and used functional magnetic resonance imaging to observe brain activity while viewing food cues. They analyzed fecal samples to examine gut microbiome and tryptophan metabolites. The findings indicate that supportive partnerships may bolster the neural circuits required to resist unhealthy food impulses, strengthening the body’s natural regulatory systems in the brain and gut.
The study challenges oversimplified views about marriage and weight, highlighting that the quality of the relationship is a determining factor. It suggests that interventions focusing on diet and exercise alone may be incomplete and that incorporating strategies to build strong, positive social relationships could be necessary for holistic health care. The researchers propose a unified pathway linking social bonds, oxytocin, brain regulation, and gut communication in shaping obesity.
The results have implications for obesity prevention and treatment, suggesting that therapies targeting the oxytocin system or the gut microbiome might be useful for individuals lacking strong social support.
Source: https://www.psypost.org/supportive-marriage-linked-to-lower-obesity-risk-through-novel-brain-gut-pathway