Triggers in the brain make us misjudge our weight perceptions

Our brains can trick us into believing our bodies are bigger than they actually are, according to new scientific evidence.

In trials conducted by University College London, subjects were asked to hold their hand beneath a table and to mark corresponding points on top of the surface. The majority of people overestimated how big their hand really was. Experts believe the reason for this could be that triggers in the brain make us perceive our hands to be much wider than they actually are.

If this phenomenon applies to our perceptions about the rest of our bodies, then the experts say it could explain why some people develop eating disorders such as anorexia where they think of their body as obese – when in actual fact they are often dangerously thin. Another common eating disorder is bulimia, where someone regularly binge eats past the point where they are full, sometimes until they vomit.

When obese people misjudge their weight

At the other end of the weight-spectrum, obese people can misjusge themselves to be fighting fit and healthy when they are really on the verge of major health problems like heart disease and diabetes. Research from America last year found that 8% of overweight and obese people didn’t think they needed to lose any weight or were in any health danger because of their weight. Could this be caused by ‘tricks’ that our brains play on us too?

Should we trust our perceptions of our bodies?

Looking at all the evidence as a whole, it seems to paint the picture that we need to be careful about how much we trust our own perceptions about our bodies. Perhaps we should take more time to listen to what others, and in particular doctors, have to say. If you are worried about any weight-related problems, from obesity to anorexia, you should get in touch with a trained doctor as soon as possible.

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