Insulin Resistance and Reward Signaling in Obesity

Insulin Resistance and Reward Signaling in Obesity

Obesity is a common problem in the Veteran population as at least 1 in 3 Veterans have obesity. When people with obesity taste food they have less response in areas of the brain that sense pleasure (reward). Decreased pleasure response to food predicts future weight gain. It is not known if this poor brain response is reversible or why obese people's brains respond this way. Insulin in the brain regulates the brain's sensing of pleasure. As people gain weight the function of insulin becomes impaired. The investigators will study if impaired function of insulin is related to a lessened brain response to food and if this brain response predicts voluntary intake of food and response to a low-calorie diet. The investigators will also study if improving the function of insulin with weight loss improves the brain response. These studies will improve the understanding as to why weight loss is difficult and inform us if improving insulin signaling is a potential way to treat obesity.

The current research proposal will investigate the relationship of insulin sensitivity to brain reward signaling. In most individuals with obesity, insulin signaling is impaired (insulin resistance). Preclinical animal studies suggest that insulin resistance in brain regions important for reward contribute to overeating. This proposal aims to test these hypotheses in humans and to determine if these characteristics are pertinent to clinical outcomes (food intake and weight loss). In humans increased body mass index (BMI) and weight gain occur with decreased food consumption-induced neural activation (consummatory reward) in the caudate of the dorsal striatum. It has been speculated that diminished consummatory reward causes overeating and prevents weight loss, however, this hypothesis has not been directly tested. Further, mechanisms for impaired food consumption-induced neural activation in obesity have not been investigated.

The research outcomes of the proposed study are: 1) taste-induced neural activation as determined by blood-oxygen dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) scanning, 2) caloric intake at a buffet meal, and 3) food craving. Based on screening and baseline outcome assessments participants with insulin resistance (metabolically unhealthy obesity) will be enrolled in a weight loss intervention to lose 5-10% body weight and then repeat outcomes measures after intervention. Those who are metabolically healthy at baseline (MHO) will only complete baseline outcome measures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 25-60yoa, inclusive.
• BMI 30.0 and 45.0 kg/m2, inclusive.
• Normal visual acuity with correction.
• Able to travel regularly to the St. Louis VA and Washington University for research visits.
• Completed signed informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current or history of significant psychiatric disease, including Binge Eating Disorder (BED).
• Current or history of significant substance abuse or extended use of tobacco.
• Contraindications for MRI (e.g., pregnancy, claustrophobia, pacemaker, circumference > 54 inches, weight > 400 lbs, etc.);
• Significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, liver, neurologic, or metabolic disease.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Significant anemia.
• Treatment with a medication the affects insulin sensitivity.
• Treatment with centrally acting medications.
• Frequent shift work.
• Significant in-mobility or unable to lay on back still for 1 hour.
• History of bariatric surgery.
• Food allergies/ intolerance that would prevent completing study.
• Symptoms concerning for untreated active mental health disease