Childhood Junk Food May Rewire Appetite Into Adulthood

A Whole Lotta Junk: We know that eating junk food at any age isn’t great for your health — but indulging in lots of it early in life could cause lasting changes to appetite and eating behavior, according to a new study from researchers at University College Cork. The impact of an early high-fat, high-sugar (HFHS) diet can continue well into adulthood, even with a healthier diet and weight later. But there’s good news: Certain pre- and probiotic strains can minimize these effects.

The Study: When young mice were fed a HFHS diet, they took significantly more food from the food hopper compared to the control mice. After being put on their regular diet, these mice still preferred HFHS food to the control food. But supplementation with the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum and prebiotic fibers counteracted these effects. The HFHS mice reduced their food intake, their food preferences were normalized, and the males’ preference for sweetness was lessened. 

The Takeaway: Early exposure to unhealthy foods disrupted the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates appetite and energy balance, and lasted long afterward. Changes to the gut microbiome from the specific pre- and probiotic combo minimized this dysregulation.

Keep in Mind: This was an animal study, so the exact effect on humans isn’t totally clear.