What if the best “weapon” against extra pounds was hidden in the marital bed rather than on the plate or in the gym? A team of UCLA Health looked at a factor often forgotten in the fight against obesity: the quality of the relationship, and the way in which our brain “dialogues” with our intestine. It remains to be seen how this translates concretely on the scale.
The impact of emotional support
The study, published in the journal Gut Microbesincluded 94 adults from the Los Angeles area, the majority of whom were overweight or obese. Participants indicated their marital status, their level of emotional support, their diet and took a battery of tests: BMI calculation, eating disorder questionnaires, brain imaging in front of photos of food, stool analyzes and blood tests.
Married people reporting high emotional support had an average BMI about five points lower than married people feeling low on support, a difference that did not appear among unmarried participants.
Emotional support is also reflected in the way we eat. Volunteers who said they were well cared for reported fewer eating disorder symptoms, regardless of their marital status. In other words, it’s not just the ring on the finger that counts: the quality of the link seems decisive.
In the brain, better control of food cravings
Brain imaging sheds light on part of this link. “Brain imaging revealed that these people had increased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which manages cravings and appetite, when they viewed images of food“, specify the authors.
This region, associated with impulse control, was more reactive in highly emotionally supported married people.
Single people, even well surrounded ones, did not present the same pattern, possibly because their social ties are more diffuse and less stable.
Visible effects on the microbiota
On the intestinal side, the team analyzed metabolites from tryptophan, a key amino acid for inflammation, energy and serotonin. “People with more support showed beneficial changes in tryptophan metabolites“.”These metabolites also participate in the production of serotonin and other compounds that can influence mood, social behavior and metabolism“, they add.
In high-support marrieds, some protective compounds were higher, while metabolites associated with inflammation and cognitive impairment were lower.
Oxytocin: the common thread between brain, microbiota and strong relationships
At the center of these observations is oxytocin, often nicknamed the “love hormone.” Married people had higher rates on average than unmarried people.
Statistical models suggest a possible mechanism: stable and supportive relationships increase oxytocin, which strengthens both the activity of the prefrontal cortex towards food and favorable metabolic profiles in the gut.
“Think of oxytocin as a conductor directing a symphony between the brain and gut“, explains Professor Church. “It strengthens the brain’s ability to resist food cravings while promoting beneficial metabolic processes in the gut, helping to maintain a healthy weight“.
Promising results, but a study that remains limited
The study remains observational, carried out on a modest sample composed mainly of overweight or obese adults, which prevents us from asserting that happy marriage directly “prevents” obesity.
The authors see this as an additional piece of the puzzle linking brain, intestine and social relationships: our emotional ties leave physiological traces, even in the microbiota. “These findings highlight the critical importance of forming lasting, positive and stable relationships to promote overall good health.“, concludes Dr. Arpana Church. “Social connections are not only a source of emotional satisfaction; they are also biologically linked to our health“.