Archive for October 18th, 2008

THURSDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) — A gene could help prod people to overeat and gain excess weight, new research shows.

The finding probably won’t provide a “magic bullet” for weight loss, but it does reinforce the value of good eating habits and exercise, especially for young people, scientists say.

The study, reported in the Oct. 17 issue of Science, is the latest in a series focusing on the brain’s response to food using the neurotransmitter dopamine. Cells in the brain’s “reward” centers release dopamine when people eat, causing that feeling of pleasure, researchers explain.