Who says new year often says good resolutions, and one of them is often to (re) get into sport. What better excuse than this new year to finally tell yourself that we are going to go to the gym or do your sport at home several times a week? Ultimately, it's just a matter of motivation. Yes, but here it is:an American study has just shown that motivation, and more precisely its lack, is linked to a receptor in the brain. A receiver that can go wrong with junk food…Damn it!
"We know that physical activity is generally linked to good health, but it is difficult to explain why obese people are less active", explains Dr. Alexxai Kravitz, in charge of the study. To find the explanation for the lack of motivation that we all sometimes experience, scientists observed mice for 18 weeks. Separated into two groups, half of them received a "normal" diet, while the other half were fed high-calorie foods. First observation:the mice in the second group began to move less well before becoming obese, so it is not the excess weight that causes the lack of motivation. The researchers then looked at the brain and observed the dopamine receptors, a neurotransmitter that allows the proper flow of information. Dopamine is indeed linked to movements since its absence causes movement disorders including Parkinson's disease. On a smaller scale, dopamine would also play a role in the motivation to play sports. In overweight mice, the D2 receptor appeared to malfunction, suggesting that reduced activity and motivation are linked to this receptor. A new avenue to explore for the management of obesity...
Clearly, if we are overweight or have simply abused the good things during the holiday season, we may have trouble keeping our good resolution. Come on, let's get motivated and keep in mind that it's worth it!!
