AVOLYA – slimmed down. No excess baggage
Silence in the mind
The neurobiology of constant “food noise”
People with chronic excess weight rarely struggle primarily against physical hunger. They struggle against a phenomenon that modern neurobiology calls “food noise”: a relentless, loud internal monologue that revolves obsessively around the next meal, snacks and hedonic rewards. Long dismissed as a lack of willpower, it is now shown by brain imaging to involve measurable dysregulation in the mesolimbic dopamine circuit.
The duel in the brain: homeostasis versus hedonics
Human eating behaviour is essentially controlled by two overarching neural networks:
- The homeostatic centre in the hypothalamusIt registers the body's actual physiological energy needs based on peripheral signals such as leptin, insulin and ghrelin, and protects the body from an energy shortfall.
- The hedonic reward system (VTA & nucleus accumbens)It responds to dopamine release, which, from an evolutionary perspective, is triggered by high-calorie food rich in sugar and fat. In obesity, this system permanently drowns out the homeostatic satiety signals.
Molecular dampening via incretin receptors
The discovery that GLP-1 and GIP receptors are expressed not only in the gastrointestinal tract but also at high density in the hypothalamus and the mesolimbic system marks a milestone. When modern receptor agonists bind to these central receptors, something happens that patients describe with deep relief: the background noise falls silent. The constant preoccupation with food gives way to a biological calm.
Medical perspective & the role of coaching
However, this neurochemical calm is not a permanent state at the push of a button but a precious window of opportunity. It is essential to use it to work through emotional triggers, anchor new behaviour patterns in AVOLYA coaching and build a sustainable relationship with food – before any later dose reduction.