Why Your Brain Always Wants Desserts—Even When You’re Full
Scientists have uncovered why people often crave desserts even after a full meal. The phenomenon, sometimes called betsubara or 'separate stomach,' turns out to be rooted in the brain’s hardwired response to sugar. New research reveals that specific neural pathways override satiety signals, pushing us to keep eating desserts regardless of fullness.
A team at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research traced the effect to POMC neurons, a type of brain cell linked to feelings of fullness. Surprisingly, these same neurons also release beta-endorphin—a natural opioid—when exposed to sugar. This chemical triggers reward pathways, creating an intense desire for more desserts even after eating enough.
Brain scans of volunteers given sugar solutions confirmed the mechanism exists in humans. The response appears to be evolutionary, developed in environments where sugar was rare and valuable. The stomach’s adaptability and hormonal timing further amplify the effect, making room for desserts despite a full meal. Experiments on mice showed that blocking beta-endorphin release stopped them from overeating sugar while satiated. This suggests potential treatments for overconsumption and obesity by targeting the same pathway in humans. Social and cultural habits, like serving desserts after meals, reinforce the behaviour, making the craving even harder to resist.
The findings explain why dessert cravings persist even when we’re full. By pinpointing the opioid-driven reward system behind this behaviour, researchers have opened doors for therapies that could curb excessive sugar intake. The discovery also highlights how deeply ingrained—and biologically driven—our love for desserts truly is.
