TheDigger Intelligence Unit
Eating too much junk food early in life may do more than just increase waistlines. It could actually change the brain in ways that last into adulthood, even after switching to healthier diets.
A new study from University College Cork (UCC) shows that high-fat, high-sugar diets disrupt brain regions involved in appetite regulation, leading to long-term changes in eating habits.
Researchers at APC Microbiome, a top centre at UCC, found that unhealthy diets in childhood can change how the brain controls hunger and energy use.
These changes lasted even after the diet stopped and body weight went back to normal. This suggests that eating processed foods early in life may shape eating habits for years to come.
Children today are often surrounded by foods that are high in calories but low in nutrients. These foods show up at parties, school events, sports activities, and even as rewards.
Scientists warn that being around these foods all the time can shape food preferences early on, leading to habits that last into adulthood and increase the risk.
The study, published in Nature Communications, used a mouse model to show that animals fed high-fat, high-sugar diets early in life had lasting changes in how they ate as adults.
These changes were linked to problems in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls appetite and energy use.
The researchers also found some good news. By targeting the gut microbiome, they could help reverse these effects.
A probiotic strain called Bifidobacterium longum APC1472 improved eating habits. Prebiotic fibres like fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), which are found in foods such as onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, and bananas, gave even broader benefits to the gut microbiome.
“Our findings show that what we eat early in life really matters,” said Dr Cristina Cuesta-Martí, first author of the study. “Early dietary exposure may leave hidden, long-term effects on feeding behaviour that are not instantly visible through weight alone.”
Lead investigator Dr Harriet Schellekens said that supporting the gut microbiota from birth could help people keep healthier eating habits as they grow older.
Professor John F. Cryan, Vice President for Research & Innovation at UCC, said this research reveals new ways to use the microbiome to fight obesity and unhealthy eating.
The study involved several universities and was funded by national and international organisations.