Search Results (34)

Background: Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep are interdependent components of the 24 h movement profile that may influence appetite control. While acute exercise can alter appetite perceptions and food reward, less is known about how reallocating time between daily behaviours affects appetite outcomes under free-living conditions. Methods: We applied isotemporal-substitution modelling in a cross-sectional study of 130 young, healthy, active adults. Accelerometer-derived estimates of sedentary time, light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep were analysed in relation to energy intake (food diaries, laboratory meals), subjective appetite perceptions, appetite-related hormones (acylated ghrelin, PYY, leptin), and psychological traits, including food reward (Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire, LFPQ), food cravings (Control of Eating Questionnaire, CoEQ), and eating behaviour traits (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, TFEQ). Results: Reallocating 30 min/day of sedentary time to MVPA was associated with higher energy intake in free-living (+113 kcal/day, 95% CI: 34–192) and laboratory settings (+120 kcal/day, 95% CI: 55–185), along with greater postprandial hunger and prospective food consumption, reduced fullness, elevated fasting acylated ghrelin, and lower postprandial PYY. No associations were observed for reallocations to LPA or sleep. Furthermore, sedentary time reallocations were unrelated to leptin or psychological eating traits assessed by the LFPQ, CoEQ, or TFEQ. Conclusions: In this population, reallocating sedentary time to MVPA was linked to physiological and behavioural compensation consistent with elevated energy demands, whereas reallocating to LPA or sleep showed no associations. Trait-level eating behaviours were unaffected, suggesting MVPA influences appetite primarily through acute physiological rather than enduring cognitive or hedonic pathways. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is characterized by recurrent, cue-triggered and intrusive urges to use cocaine (craving), compulsive drug-seeking despite adverse consequences, and impaired control over intake, often co-occurring with excess weight and hedonic overeating. A dual-target rationale supports the fixed-dose naltrexone–bupropion (NB) combination: μ-opioid receptor (MOR) antagonism may mitigate opioid-facilitated mesolimbic reinforcement, while bupropion’s catecholaminergic effects and POMC activation support satiety and weight loss. Case Presentation: We describe a case study from an Italian outpatient setting of a 35-year-old man with a 10-year history of CUD, multiple failed detoxifications, and class I obesity (body mass index [BMI] 31 kg/m²) who initiated fixed-dose NB and was followed for 12 weeks under routine care. NB was associated with progressive attenuation of cue-reactive cocaine craving and improved appetite control, alongside clinically meaningful weight reduction, without psychiatric destabilization or emergent safety concerns; medication adherence remained stable. The patient maintained abstinence throughout follow-up and reported improved psychosocial functioning. Quantitatively, CCQ-B scores decreased from 7.2 at baseline to 2.1 at Week 12 (≈70% reduction), while BMI decreased from 31.0 to 25.5 kg/m² (≈−17.7%), with clinically meaningful weight loss and stable adherence. Conclusions: This case study supports the mechanistic rationale that dual NB therapy can simultaneously attenuate cocaine craving and facilitate weight control, addressing two clinically relevant targets in CUD. Although evidence for NB in CUD remains limited and mixed across stimulant populations, this observation highlights a plausible, testable therapeutic hypothesis that integrates mesolimbic and hypothalamic pathways and may inform the design of controlled trials in patients with co-occurring CUD and obesity. Full article

Background: Problematic Internet gaming (PIG), considered an early stage of Internet gaming addiction (IGA), has become increasingly prevalent among adolescents. This study focused on deviant peer affiliation (DPA) and hedonic gaming experience (HGE) as key mediators and examined four psychosocial risk factors closely related to them: interpersonal incompetence (II), perceived stress (PS), frustration (FR), and emotional loneliness (EL). Specifically, the study investigated how these four psychosocial risk factors influence adolescents’ DPA, HGE, and PIG, and whether DPA and HGE mediate these relationships. Methods: Based on existing validated scales, we developed a questionnaire to measure these seven constructs (II, PS, FR, IC, DPA, HGE, and PIG), proposed 14 hypotheses, and collected 214 valid responses from adolescents. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized model. Findings: The results showed that all 14 hypotheses were supported. Specifically, interpersonal incompetence significantly predicted perceived stress; stress led to frustration; and frustration, in turn, contributed to emotional loneliness. Furthermore, all four psychosocial risk factors significantly predicted deviant peer affiliation, hedonic gaming experience, and ultimately, problematic Internet gaming among adolescents. Both DPA and HGE mediated the effects of psychosocial risk factors on adolescent problematic Internet gaming (PIG), with the model explaining moderate-to-high variance. This study highlights the importance of segmenting adolescents into more specific subgroups based on the distinct developmental pathways leading to PIG. Implications: Understanding the step-by-step mechanisms and psychological drivers of different adolescent subtypes can provide a more solid foundation for early identification and targeted intervention efforts. Full article

Obesity has become a major public health crisis and serves as an underlying condition for other chronic metabolic diseases. The dysregulation of the inhibitory and regulatory mechanisms of the mesolimbic dopamine system, particularly dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs), plays a critical role in driving excessive food consumption and compulsive eating habits. Based on the current literature, chronic consumption of high-fat foods elicits hedonic sensations and has the potential to downregulate and desensitize D2Rs, impairing their signaling and inhibitory action. This impairment thereby alters the downstream signaling of the D2Rs, involving the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and the associated cascade. Although individual components of this proposed pathway have been studied, a comprehensive synthesis has not been established. This review aims to explore the relationship between D2R downregulation and desensitization and their effects on the downstream signaling cascade. We hypothesize that alterations in this pathway may lead to the dysregulation of the expression of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides, contributing to binge-eating behaviors. Full article

Background and Objectives: Ghrelin plays key roles in appetite regulation, involving both homeostatic and hedonic pathways. In obesity, its metabolism is affected by alterations in neural and hormonal responses. Liver-Enriched Antimicrobial Peptide 2 (LEAP2), recently identified as an endogenous ghrelin receptor antagonist, has emerged as a potential regulator of appetite and energy balance, and bariatric surgery is known to induce changes in this system. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the roles of acyl ghrelin, des-acyl ghrelin, and LEAP2 in food intake regulation and summarize findings on the alterations in their levels after bariatric surgery. Materials and Methods: We conducted a narrative review of human and animal studies published in the literature investigating the roles of acyl ghrelin, des-acyl ghrelin, and LEAP2 in food intake regulation, as well as changes in their levels in obesity and following bariatric surgery. Results: Alterations in the ghrelin system, i.e., the acyl ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin isoforms and LEAP2, in obesity have been reported. Experimental studies have shown that LEAP2 administration reduces food intake and body weight by suppressing ghrelin-induced food intake. Most studies have found marked reductions in fasting acyl ghrelin after sleeve gastrectomy, more so than after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Conclusions: In obesity, altered neural and hormonal responses to food also affect ghrelin metabolism, with significant deviations in acyl ghrelin levels and impaired appetite regulation mechanisms. Unlike ghrelin, LEAP2 levels tend to be elevated in obesity. While changes in acyl ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin isoforms, particularly after sleeve gastrectomy, are well documented, data on LEAP2 remain limited. Further research is needed to better define the role of LEAP2 in ghrelin-mediated food intake and its potential as a therapeutic target in obesity. Full article

As ad-supported subscription models proliferate across over-the-top (OTT) media platforms, understanding the psychological mechanisms and perceptual factors that underlie consumers’ transition decisions becomes increasingly consequential. This study integrates the Uses and Gratifications framework with a contemporary motivation-based perspective to examine how users’ media consumption motivations and advertising attitudes predict intentions to adopt ad-supported OTT plans. Data were collected via a nationally representative online survey in South Korea (N = 813). The sample included both premium subscribers (n = 708) and non-subscribers (n = 105). The findings reveal distinct segmentation in decision-making patterns. Among premium subscribers, switching intentions were predominantly driven by intrinsic motivations—particularly identity alignment with content—and by the perceived informational value of advertisements. These individuals are more likely to consider ad-supported plans when ad content is personally relevant and cognitively enriching. Conversely, non-subscribers exhibited greater sensitivity to extrinsic cues such as the entertainment value of ads and the presence of tangible incentives (e.g., discounts), suggesting a hedonic-reward orientation. By advancing a dual-pathway explanatory model, this study contributes to the theoretical discourse on digital subscription behavior and offers actionable insights for OTT service providers. The results underscore the necessity of segment-specific advertising strategies: premium subscribers may be engaged through informative and identity-consistent advertising, while non-subscribers respond more favorably to enjoyable and benefit-laden ad experiences. These insights inform platform monetization efforts amid the evolving dynamics of consumer attention and subscription fatigue. Full article

This study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying virtual reality (VR) tourism experiences through an integrated theoretical framework centered on flow experience and visit destination intention. Drawing upon flow theory, the research investigates how interactivity, perceived vividness, and telepresence influence flow experience and subsequently affect hedonic motivation and perceived visual appeal in VR tourism contexts. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis of data collected from 255 VR tourism users across major Chinese metropolitan centers, the study reveals that perceived vividness and telepresence significantly impact flow experience, while interactivity shows no significant effect. Flow experience demonstrates significant positive relationships with hedonic motivation and perceived visual appeal. Furthermore, hedonic motivation and perceived visual appeal significantly positively affect visit destination intention. The findings advance the theoretical understanding of VR tourism by illuminating the psychological pathways through which technological characteristics influence behavioral intentions. These results offer practical implications for destination marketers and VR tourism developers in designing more effective virtual experiences that enhance destination visit intentions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gustatory stimuli are primarily processed in the insula, while the primary olfactory cortex involves the piriform cortex. Relatively little is known about the central-nervous integration of stimuli from foods. The main aim of this study in healthy participants was to evaluate the processing of olfactory stimuli which are associated with gustatory sensations. Methods: Using a 3T MRI scanner, 47 healthy, right-handed women (mean age: 26.2 ± 4.7 years) with normal senses of taste and smell underwent functional scans. During the analysis, we presented isointense odors (2 “sweet” and 2 “sour”) to subjects using air-dilution olfactometry. Odor delivery (8 s) was alternated with the presentation of odorless air (12 s) and was repeated 10 times. Between each session, participants were asked to associate a taste with the odor. Results: The gustatory areas (insula and frontal operculum) were activated by exposure to odors. In addition, increased activations were observed in the bilateral angular gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex, and right caudate and nucleus accumbens during the perception of sour-like odors compared to sweet-like odors. Conclusions: The distinct neural responses to different odor categories suggest that the brain processes odors with varying hedonic and sensory characteristics through distinct neural pathways. Future research could explore how these findings translate to real-world food preferences and dietary behaviors, particularly in relation to individual differences in taste perception. Full article

The transition of global agriculture from yield-driven production to quality-driven systems has gained urgency, where premium pricing strategies offer pathways to enhance farmer incomes and promote sustainable practices. As a critical staple crop, rice exemplifies the challenges of aligning producer standards with consumer preferences to realize market premiums. This study systematically evaluates determinants of consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for premium rice, integrating analyses of attribute preferences, cognition perception, and purchasing experience. Utilizing survey data from 1714 consumers across four Chinese cities, we employ principal component analysis to identify key quality dimensions and ordered logit models to quantify their impacts. Hedonic pricing theory informs the estimation of implicit prices for specific attributes. The results reveal that intrinsic characteristics (like nutrition) and extrinsic cues (like the brand), along with consumers’ nutritional awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of quality-price correlation, jointly drive premium WTP. The mean acceptable premium reaches 4.52 yuan/500 g, with nutritional attention enhancements commanding the highest valuation (0.171 yuan/500 g). The findings underscore the necessity of standardized quality grading systems aligned with consumer preferences and targeted interventions to bridge information asymmetries. Policymakers are recommended to improve supply-side quality signaling through enhanced packaging and certification systems while strengthening demand-side nutrition education to facilitate value chain coordination and sustainable, high-quality development in agriculture. Full article

Background: Increased inflammation and heightened physiological stress reactivity have been associated with pathophysiology of depressive symptoms. The underlying biological mechanisms by which inflammation and stress may influence neurogenesis are changes in the kynurenine (KYN) pathway, which is activated under stress. Supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) has anti-inflammatory properties and can increase stress resilience. Whether n-3 PUFAs alter KYN stress response is unknown. Objectives: This placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of n-3 PUFAs on KYN metabolism, inflammation, depressive symptoms, and mood. Moreover, stress-induced changes following a laboratory stressor have been assessed. Methods: In this placebo-controlled study, 47 healthy male adults received either 4 g n-3 PUFAs per day (Omega-3 group) or a placebo (Placebo group) for 12 weeks. Results: A significant group-by-time interaction was found for the inflammatory markers gp130 (F = 7.07, p = 0.011), IL-6R alpha (F = 10.33, p = 0.003), and TNF_RI (F= 10.92, p = 0.002). No significant group-by-time interactions were found for KYN metabolites, depressive symptoms, and mood (except for Hedonic tone (F = 6.50, p = 0.014)), nor for stress-induced changes in KYN metabolites and mood following a laboratory stressor. Conclusions: Overall, increased n-3 PUFA levels in healthy men ameliorate inflammatory markers but do not ameliorate KYN metabolism, depressive symptoms, mood, or KYN metabolism and mood following a stress induction. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT05520437 (30/08/2022 first trial registration). Full article

The incidence of obesity has markedly increased globally over the last several decades and is believed to be associated with the easier availability of energy-dense foods, including high-fat foods. The reinforcing hedonic properties of high-fat foods, including olfactory cues, activate reward centers in the brain, motivating eating behavior. Thus, there is a growing interest in the understanding of the genetic changes that occur in the brain that are associated with obesity and eating behavior. This growing interest has paralleled advances in genomic methods that enable transcriptomic-wide analyses. Here, we examined the transcriptomic-level differences in the olfactory bulb and striatum, regions of the brain associated with olfaction and hedonic food-seeking, respectively, in high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. To isolate the dietary effects from obesity, we also examined transcriptomic changes in normal-chow-fed and limited-HFD-fed groups, with the latter being pair-fed with an HFD isocaloric to the consumption of the normal-chow-fed mice. Using RNA sequencing, we identified 274 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the striatum and 11 in the olfactory bulb of ad libitum HFD-fed mice compared to the chow-fed group, and thirty-eight DEGs in the striatum between the ad libitum HFD and limited-HFD-fed groups. The DEGs in both tissues were associated with inflammation and immune-related pathways, including oxidative stress and immune function, and with mitochondrial dysfunction and reward pathways in the striatum. These results shed light on potential obesity-associated genes in these regions of the brain. Full article

The human reward network consists of interconnected brain regions that process stimuli associated with satisfaction and modulate pleasure-seeking behaviors. Impairments in reward processing have been implicated in several medical and psychiatric conditions, and there is a growing interest in disentangling the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. The brain–gut axis plays a regulatory role in several higher-order neurophysiological pathways, including reward processing. In this context, the aim of the current review was to critically appraise research findings on the contribution of the brain–gut axis to the human reward system. Enteric neuropeptides, which are implicated in the regulation of hunger and satiety, such as ghrelin, PYY_3–36, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), have been associated with the processing of food-related, alcohol-related, and other non-food-related rewards, maintaining a delicate balance between the body’s homeostatic and hedonic needs. Furthermore, intestinal microbiota and their metabolites have been linked to differences in the architecture and activation of brain reward areas in obese patients and patients with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Likewise, bariatric surgery reduces hedonic eating by altering the composition of gut microbiota. Although existing findings need further corroboration, they provide valuable information on the pathophysiology of reward-processing impairments and delineate a novel framework for potential therapeutic interventions. Full article

Obesity remains a significant global health challenge, with bariatric surgery remaining as one of the most effective treatments for severe obesity and its related comorbidities. This review highlights the multifaceted impact of bariatric surgery beyond mere physical restriction or nutrient malabsorption, underscoring the importance of the gut microbiome and neurohormonal signals in mediating the profound effects on weight loss and behavior modification. The various bariatric surgery procedures, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG), act through distinct mechanisms to alter the gut microbiome, subsequently impacting metabolic health, energy balance, and food reward behaviors. Emerging evidence has shown that bariatric surgery induces profound changes in the composition of the gut microbiome, notably altering the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and enhancing populations of beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia. These microbiota shifts have far-reaching effects beyond gut health, influencing dopamine-mediated reward pathways in the brain and modulating the secretion and action of key gut hormones including ghrelin, leptin, GLP-1, PYY, and CCK. The resultant changes in dopamine signaling and hormone levels contribute to reduced hedonic eating, enhanced satiety, and improved metabolic outcomes. Further, post-bariatric surgical effects on satiation targets are in part mediated by metabolic byproducts of gut microbiota like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids, which play a pivotal role in modulating metabolism and energy expenditure and reducing obesity-associated inflammation, as well as influencing food reward pathways, potentially contributing to the regulation of body weight and reduction in hedonic eating behaviors. Overall, a better understanding of these mechanisms opens the door to developing non-surgical interventions that replicate the beneficial effects of bariatric surgery on the gut microbiome, dopamine signaling, and gut hormone regulation, offering new avenues for obesity treatment. Full article

Well-being is an ordinary life goal that many people strive to achieve. Recently, there has been a growing interest in academic research on how consumption can enhance well-being. Hedonic sports consumption, which is associated with positive emotions, can positively impact an individual’s subjective well-being by providing both physical and mental enjoyment and relieving the stresses of everyday life. However, there is a need for more comprehensive research on the mechanisms that connect meaningful sports consumption behaviors, which may also be accompanied by negative emotions, to the mental health of individuals. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to explore the potential mechanisms of meaningful sports consumption behaviors and eudaimonic well-being in individual mental health. Based on the SOR theory, this study develops a comprehensive conceptual model to examine the impact of sports consumption behavior on individuals’ eudaimonic well-being. The study’s results indicate that engaging in meaningful sports consumption behaviors can positively influence individuals’ eudaimonic well-being. Additionally, the study finds that perceived social support and perceived self-esteem among sports consumers significantly and positively impact their eudaimonic well-being. Finally, the study reveals that perceived social support and perceived self-esteem mediate the pathway through which meaningful sports consumption behaviors affect eudaimonic well-being. These findings contribute to our understanding of how to enhance sports consumers’ eudaimonic well-being and promote meaningful sports consumption behaviors. Therefore, it is recommended that sports marketers focus on providing meaningful sports service offerings, fostering consumer–society connections, and increasing respect and appreciation for consumers. These marketing insights can be valuable in promoting positive sports consumption experiences. Full article

Much academic and media attention has been focused on how nature contributes to psychological health, yet, most of this focus has been on happiness or hedonic well-being. Although numerous writers and researchers have linked connecting with nature as a pathway to meaning in life, an integrated overview has not yet (to our knowledge) been offered. Our manuscript is thus of both theoretical and practical importance with respect to finding meaning in life. In this hybrid commentary/review paper, we examine the link between meaning in life and relating to the beyond-human natural world. Through presenting supportive empirical research and interdisciplinary insights, we make the case that connecting with the natural world provides us with meaning in various ways. We discuss how nature is a common source of meaning in people’s lives and how connecting with nature helps to provide meaning by addressing our need to find coherence, significance/mattering, and purpose (the three aspects comprising the tripartite model of meaning life). We also consider how connecting with nature enhances our experiential appreciation for life, a fourth aspect of meaning in life recently proposed. Our discussion then expands to examining nature as a place of attachment. Going beyond how nature provides us with meaning, we consider how engaging in nature-based activities provides an avenue for many people to build meaningful lives. We close by considering how threats to nature are a threat to meaning in life. Full article