Quiz 2 Flashcards
As discussed in lecture, your gut microbiome can be shaped by all of the following factors EXCEPT:
a. the amount of REM sleep you get
b. your birth (e.g. vaginal delivery vs. caesarean section).
c. the food and drink you consume
d. factors you inherited from your parents
a. the amount of REM sleep you get
Consuming a highly-palatable, tasty food would most likely cause strong neuronal activation within the _______; this is a collection of dopaminergic neurons located in the _______.
a. lateral hypothalamus (LH); midbrain
b. ventral tegmental area (VTA); nucleus accumbens (NAc)
c. lateral hypothalamus (LH); nucleus accumbens (NAc)
d. ventral tegmental area (VTA); midbrain
d. ventral tegmental area (VTA); midbrain
Consuming a highly-palatable, tasty food would most likely cause strong neuronal activation within the ventral tegmental area (VTA); this is a collection of dopaminergic neurons located in the midbrain.
Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA):
Function: This area is heavily involved in the brain’s reward system. It releases dopamine in response to rewarding stimuli like tasty food.
Location: Located in the midbrain.
Tip: Think of the “V” in VTA as pointing to the center (like an arrow) where the midbrain is. The VTA is “vital” for rewards.
As discussed in lectures, one issue with lipostatic theories of eating is that they do not explain obesity.
True or False?
True
The lipostatic theory posits that body fat is maintained at a set point. According to this theory, when body fat drops below this set point, it triggers increased eating, particularly of fatty foods. Conversely, when the set point is reached, eating should stop.
The lecturer points out a major flaw in this theory: “If you think about it, if the lipostatic theory held true, there would be no such thing as obesity, it just wouldn’t happen. People would not put on more and more and more weight it just wouldn’t happen.”
This directly contradicts the observed reality of increasing obesity rates worldwide. As the lecturer states, “We know that obesity rates worldwide, going up and up and up and up.”
The lipostatic theory suggests that people should never significantly deviate from their preferred setpoint of body fat. However, the existence and increasing prevalence of obesity clearly shows that many people do deviate significantly from what would be considered a healthy body fat setpoint.
Therefore, the statement is true because the lipostatic theory, with its concept of a fixed body fat setpoint that regulates eating behavior, cannot adequately explain why obesity occurs or why it’s becoming increasingly prevalent. This failure to account for obesity is indeed a significant issue with the lipostatic theory of eating, as discussed in the lecture.
It is clear that overweight people are stigmatised, but it has also been suggested that this stigmatisation does not act as a negative reinforcer and may instead contribute to overeating. What might account for this seemingly paradoxical observation?
A. Overweight people internalise the stigma and identify as being ‘someone who overeats’
B. The stigma becomes a positive reinforcer
C. The stigma becomes a contextual reinforcer
D. The stigma dissipates over time and this allows other factors to promote eating
A. Overweight people internalise the stigma and identify as being ‘someone who overeats’
This option is the most plausible explanation for the paradoxical observation. When individuals internalize weight stigma, they may begin to see themselves as inherently flawed or incapable of change. This can lead to:
Self-fulfilling prophecy: If someone believes they are destined to be overweight, they may be less motivated to engage in healthy behaviors.
Decreased self-efficacy: Internalized stigma can reduce one’s belief in their ability to control their eating or manage their weight.
Emotional eating: Stigma often leads to negative emotions, which some individuals cope with through comfort eating.
Identity reinforcement: If being overweight becomes part of one’s identity, they may unconsciously act in ways that maintain this self-image.
NPY-producing neurons are located in the [1]. These neurons project to, and release NPY onto, neurons in the [2], which drives food-seeking behaviours.
a. arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus; paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus
b. paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus; arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus
c. lateral hypothalamus; arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus
d. arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus; lateral hypothalamus (LH)
d. arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus; lateral hypothalamus (LH)
Arcuate Nucleus contains two important types of neurons:
POMC Neurons (pro-opiomelanocortin producing)
NPY Neurons (neuropeptide Y producing) act as hunger neurons
NPY neurons project to orexigenic neurons in the Lateral Hypothalamus (promote eating)
Lateral Hypothalamus (LH): Associated with hunger and eating initiation
One example of food affecting mood can be seen when ____________ foods are repetitively eaten. These foods can produce a quick feeling of energy and good mood (“positive affect”), but they spur a large release of insulin. This large release of insulin will cause __________, which can make someone hungry and irritable.
a. low fibre; blood glucose levels to rapidly fall
b. high glycemic index; blood glucose levels to rapidly rise
c. low fibre; blood glucose levels to rapidly rise
d. high glycemic index; blood glucose levels to rapidly fall
d. high glycemic index; blood glucose levels to rapidly fall
Foods with a high glycemic index can cause a quick spike in blood sugar, leading to a rapid release of insulin. This can then cause blood glucose levels to drop rapidly, potentially making someone feel hungry and irritable.
Over the last 70 years, most weight-loss drugs have not seen great success. This is due to all of the following reasons EXCEPT:
a. minimal effects on weight loss that plateau, often <5 kgs over 12 months
b. rapid weight-loss, often >15 kg over 3 months, which triggers ‘conservation mode’
c. they don’t target common reasons for overeating such as pleasure, habit, boredom, social norms etc.
d. serious, sometimes life-threatening side effects
b. rapid weight-loss, often >15 kg over 3 months, which triggers ‘conservation mode’
Most weight-loss drugs have not caused rapid weight loss of this magnitude, nor is this the reason for their lack of long-term success. The more common issues include minimal effects on weight loss, not addressing the psychological factors contributing to overeating, and serious side effects.
Using ‘standard’ BMI cut-offs (which can be skewed by muscle mass and ethnicity), a BMI greater than ____________ is considered “overweight” and a BMI greater than _____________ is considered “obese”.
A. 25; 30
B. 30; 35
C. 20; 30
D. 25; 35
A. 25; 30
You walk by a café and see delicious-looking pastries in the display cabinet. This visual sensory input could prompt the _____ phase of insulin release. Shortly after this, insulin release from the ______ (name the organ) would cause blood glucose levels to ______ (rise or fall). Then, glucodetectors in the _____ (name the organ) and brainstem would detect this change and send a message to the hypothalamus about this change in blood sugar.
You walk by a café and see delicious-looking pastries in the display cabinet. This visual sensory input could prompt the cephalic phase of insulin release. Shortly after this, insulin release from the pancreas would cause blood glucose levels to fall. Then, glucodetectors in the liver and brainstem would detect this change and send a message to the hypothalamus about this change in blood sugar.
Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the pancreas
Phases:
Cephalic phase: Before eating, triggered by sensory cues
Digestive phase: When food is in the gastrointestinal tract
Absorptive phase: When nutrients are being absorbed into the bloodstream
If your glucose glucose levels in your blood plummet, there are glucose detectors in the liver and in the brainstem, in the nucleus of the solitary tract, that can sense that. And they will send signals up to the hypothalamus.
Which of these bariatric surgery techniques is strictly a malabsorptive type of procedure?
a. abdominal liposuction (“tummy tuck”)
b. gastric band (“lap band”)
c. intestinal liner
d. gastric bypass
c. intestinal liner
Think “Liner that limits absorption” – a liner is placed in the intestine to prevent nutrient absorption.
Which of the following statements is correct?
A. Obesity is often associated with Type I diabetes.
B. Type II diabetes typically manifests in childhood
C. In Type II diabetes, insulin is produced but is either insufficient or does not stimulate glucose uptake by cells
D. Glucose remains chronically high in the blood in Type I diabetes, but chronically low in the blood in Type II diabetes
C. In Type II diabetes, insulin is produced but is either insufficient or does not stimulate glucose uptake by cells
In Type II diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or the cells don’t respond to insulin as they should, leading to elevated blood glucose levels.
When the body suddenly _______ weight, it goes into ‘conservation mode’. This involves physiological changes that _________________________________, meaning your weight loss will plateau.
A. gains; reduce metabolism
B. loses; promote metabolism
C. gains; promote metabolism
D. loses; reduce metabolism
D. loses; reduce metabolism
When the body suddenly loses weight, it goes into ‘conservation mode’. This involves physiological changes that reduce metabolism meaning your weight loss will plateau.
Recall your reading from Week 3. Which of the following is not believed to be a way that obesity contributes to poverty?
A. stigmatisation leads to wage penalties, fewer employment opportunities and, in some cases, job loss
B. overweight people spend more on food
C. stigmatisation leads to increased healthcare and/or health insurance costs in some countries
D. time spent not working and premature loss of earnings through early death can deprive the families of overweight people of income
B. overweight people spend more on food
A. is supported by this quote: “British research showed that the probability of being in employment was significantly lower (up to 25%) for obese people than non-obese and that this was the same for men and women. This is the result of prejudice not disability.”
C. is supported by: “If you develop diabetes as part of the metabolic syndrome you are likely to need a raft of medications to measure and treat elevated blood sugar, hypertension and abnormal lipids. It would not be unusual to have a dozen items on a prescription list. If you live in Chennai, India, you might have to spend a quarter of your income on diabetes care.”
D. is supported by: “In addition, the combination of unemployment and premature death deprives families of resources that could be used for investment.”
Recall your reading for Week 4. A stereotypical picture has emerged over the years of people suffering from anorexia nervosa. Which of the following is not an example of the prevailing view of this disease, according to the article?
A. the disease is seen mainly in girls who stop themselves from eating through sheer willpower
B. the disease manifests in response to parents who are unloving or controlling
C. girls who suffer from anorexia nervosa are driven by a culture that worships thinness
D. when people with anorexia nervosa starve themselves, they feel better
D. when people with anorexia nervosa starve themselves, they feel better
“The idea that patients use willpower to override hunger ‘never rang true,’ she says. ‘My patients have said for years that … when they starve, they feel better.’”
This quote shows that the idea of patients feeling better when they starve is contrary to the prevailing view and is based on more recent observations from researchers like Cynthia Bulik.
“As a young adult, Timko shared the prevailing view of the disease: that it develops when girls, motivated by a culture that worships thinness, exert extreme willpower to stop themselves from eating. Often, the idea went, the behavior arises in reaction to parents who are unloving, controlling, or worse.”
Recall your reading for Week 4. A stereotypical picture has emerged over the years of people suffering from anorexia nervosa. Which of the following is not an example of the prevailing view of this disease, according to the article?
A. the disease is seen mainly in girls who stop themselves from eating through sheer willpower
B. the disease manifests in response to parents who are unloving or controlling
C. girls who suffer from anorexia nervosa are driven by a culture that worships thinness
D. when people with anorexia nervosa starve themselves, they feel better
D. when people with anorexia nervosa starve themselves, they feel better
“The idea that patients use willpower to override hunger ‘never rang true,’ she says. ‘My patients have said for years that … when they starve, they feel better.’”
This quote shows that the idea of patients feeling better when they starve is contrary to the prevailing view and is based on more recent observations from researchers like Cynthia Bulik.
“As a young adult, Timko shared the prevailing view of the disease: that it develops when girls, motivated by a culture that worships thinness, exert extreme willpower to stop themselves from eating. Often, the idea went, the behavior arises in reaction to parents who are unloving, controlling, or worse.”
