Results of a study conducted by scientists from the University of Bath (UK), published in British Journal of Nutrition.
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The goal of the researchers was to compare the physiological effect that different amounts of food eaten on the metabolism and other systems of the body: normal (a person eats until he feels full) and maximum (a person eats until physically cannot swallow a piece).
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The experiment involved 14 healthy male volunteers aged 23 to 33 years with a normal body mass index. They were randomly divided into two equal-sized groups, the participants of which alternately on two different days had to eat either the normal or the maximum amount of pizza. At the same time, scientists monitored the participants’ blood metabolism indicators, as well as their behavior, mood and appetite.
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On average, participants received over three thousand extra calories in the binge-eating experiment, which is roughly double the number of calories they needed to get full (this equates to about one and a half large extra pizzas, although some young people were able to eat two and a half extra pizzas at a time. ).
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Contrary to the expectations of scientists, after overeating, nothing terrible happened – the levels of glucose and lipids (fats) in the blood of the participants remained normal.
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There was only a one-fold increase in insulin levels needed to control blood sugar levels and levels of other hormones that stimulate insulin secretion and make you feel full. In addition, for four hours after overeating, the participants experienced increased sleepiness and were unable to even think about any food, including sweets.
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The findings suggest that when it comes to a healthy, young male body, a single overeating does not have immediate negative health effects, the researchers note. “Everyone knows that regular overeating increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but it was still unclear how a single excess of calories affects the body. But, as it turned out, the body copes surprisingly well with this situation. Healthy men can eat twice as much as they need, and not only not die, but feel relatively good, ”- explained lead author Aaron Hengist.
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In the future, Hengist and his colleagues plan to test how healthy young women, the elderly, and those who suffer from a single overeating tolerate excess weight.
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