The process by which an individual moves into action is motivation
(Deckers, 2010). Motivated behaviors occur from his or her push and pull toward
some end-state (Deckers, 2010). An individual’s motivations directly connect to
his or her brain. Several structures of the brain and functions are associated
with motivation. These same structures of the brain and functions play a role
in an individual’s motivation for eating healthy in eating healthy as well as
other brain structures. Extrinsic factors, such as social encouragement and
positive reinforcement play a role in motivation as related to eating healthy. Intrinsic
factors, such as evolutionary, and genetic factors, and the serotonin system
play a role in motivation as related to eating healthy.
Structures of the Brain and Functions Associated with Motivation
Within the brain, the limbic system and its four main structures that
are the limbic cortex, the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the septal area play
a factor in motivation and emotions. The amygdala plays a role in the recognition
of emotions, analyzing potential threats, and reaction of emotions, and helps
motivate an individual to react accordingly. The hippocampus plays a role in
motivation and emotions because it forms new memories, and connects senses and emotions
to memories therefore it allows an individual to draw upon experiences of the
past to choose the best option that guarantees survival (Cherry, 2013). The
hypothalamus, which receives information from the endocrine, neural, and
metabolic signals is another brain structure important in its regulation of motivated
behaviors. These brain structures and their functions directly contribute to an
individual’s motivation.
Brain Structures and Functions Associated with the Motivation for Eating
Healthy
An individual’s motivation for eating healthy depends partially on
the structures of the limbic system, which include as stated before the
amygdala, the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, and the septal area. Limbic system
structures are key factors to forming new memories and the regulation of
emotions that play a factor in an individual’s motivation for eating healthy. Motivation
directly connects to the limbic system therefore a key factor motivating an individual
to maintain the act of eating healthy (Adcock, Thangavel, Whitfield-Gabrieli, Knutson,
and Gabrieli, 2006). The limbic system is also linked to the brain's prefrontal
cortex and pleasure center, which involves feelings of pleasure experienced
from eating (Cherry, 2013). Along with motivation, reward is also connected to
the limbic system; therefore rewards will strengthen motivation by producing a
sense of achievement when maintaining the act of eating healthy.
This also occurs with the release of dopamine into the
hippocampus. The amygdala’s stimulation is a key factor in learning new habits
and retaining those habits, such as eating healthy (Adcock, Thangavel,
Whitfield-Gabrieli, Knutson, and Gabrieli, 2006). The hypothalamus plays a role
in food intake regulation, and the lateral hypothalamic area is the hunger or
feeding center (Deckers, 2010). The hypothalamus also motivates behavior such
as drinking and eating. The hippocampus functions as a negative feedback mechanism,
which serves to inhibit lower structures activities involved in the control of
nonspecific levels of activation and types of incentive motivation, such as
hunger and thirst (Cherry, 2013). Dysfunction or injury to the hypothalamus
relates to an individuals increased appetite Placidi, R., Chandler, P., Oswald,
K., Maldonado, C., Wauford, P., & Boggiano, M. (2004).
The prefrontal cortex is another brain structure important in
eating healthy because it exhibits control over impulsive behaviors and allows
an individual to make sound decision relating to food choices. Other areas of
the brain associated with motivation related to eating healthy are the dopamine
circuits and the mesolimbic opioid; implicated in the abnormal increased
appetite for food and for the consumption of food (Placidi, Chandler, Oswald,
Maldonado, Wauford, & Boggiano, 2004). Several brain structures and
functions contribute to an individual’s motivation for eating healthy.
Extrinsic Factors Motivating Eating Healthy
Social
and Environmental Perceptions and Expectations
The
perceptions and expectations of society and an individual’s environment affect one’s
desire and ability to eat healthy and to maintain a healthy diet (Deckers,
2010). An individual’s perception of what is eating healthy can be help, hindered,
or alter, depending on the varying views of society. An example of this would
be the views of an individual’s social circle differing from his or her own
views, which could either help, hindered, or alter eating habits. Psychological
needs, such as social acceptance can also help, hindered, or alter an
individual’s food choices also because one can either associate with other
individuals with the same healthy food choices or become isolated because of
his or her food choices (Deckers, 2010). Health care providers can also
influence an individual’s food choice by relaying heath concerns based on one
food choices.
Positive
Reinforcement
Positive
reinforcement from an individual’s social circle (family and friends) can help
to account for predicting the likely outcome for one to create and maintain a
new diet and healthy eating habits. When members of that individual’s social
circle reinforce or make similar eating choices as related to eating healthy it
becomes a positive reinforcement. Displayed bad eating habits in an individual’s
social circle becomes less of a motivating factor in eating healthy. Motivation
decrease or enhances by the perspectives of an individual’s social circle as related
to eating healthy. When members of an individual’s social circle already eat
healthy he or she may become motivated to behave in a similarly. Positive
reinforcement is a strong factor in motivating an individual to eat healthy.
Intrinsic Factors Motivating Eating Healthy
Evolutionary
Factors
Evolution
is an intrinsic factor related to eating healthy. Hunger stimulates the
tendency to eat what is available (Deckers, 2010). Eating is the primary
purpose of supplying energy to an individual’s body for functioning. The hypothalamus
regulates the evolutionary response of hunger and sends out a hunger signal
whenever hunger occurs. This frequently can occur when starting a new diet in
relation to an individual who is just starting to eat healthy. Also an
individual’s dopamine system functions by promoting pleasure for activates such
as eating (Deckers, 2010). Dopamine induces pleasure therefore motivating
individuals toward behaviors that induce the release of dopamine, such as
eating (Deckers, 2010). When an individual starts a new diet in relation to
eating healthy it becomes a challenge for his or her dopamine system; temporarily
modifying or hindering certain pleasurable sensations of eating.
Genetic
Factors
Genetic
factors play a role in an individual’s ability to eat healthy, such as
allergies, diseases, illnesses, and certain predisposition. Some hereditary influences
affect processes, such as nutrient partitioning and energy expenditure, which
affects an individual’s ability to maintain a healthy diet (O'Rahilly, &
Farooqi, 2008). Disordered eating is one hereditary factor that can have an influence
on an individual’s ability to maintain a healthy diet. Genes also influence
human obesity, which suggest that heritable differences in neurobehavioral
traits influence habitual eating behavior such as satiety, hunger, and the
hedonic effects of food (O'Rahilly, & Farooqi, 2008). Genetic factors
strongly influence one’s ability to maintain a lifestyle of eating healthy.
Serotonin
System
An
individual’s serotonin system also plays a role in eating healthy. If an
individual has more serotonin in his or her synapses he or she will eat less
and are more discerning when choosing foods Placidi, R., Chandler, P., Oswald,
K., Maldonado, C., Wauford, P., & Boggiano, M. (2004). This may occur
because of serotonin in an individual’s neural system, which can provide the
sense of well-being without the need of food providing this sense Placidi, R.,
Chandler, P., Oswald, K., Maldonado, C., Wauford, P., & Boggiano, M.
(2004). When serotonin in the synapse is at low un-normal levels depression can
set in, and cause an individual to gain weight and have a decreased desire to
eat healthy. Changes in an individual’s serotonin levels link directly to binge
eating and dieting Placidi, R., Chandler, P., Oswald, K., Maldonado, C.,
Wauford, P., & Boggiano, M. (2004).
Conclusion
An individual’s brain structures and functions contribute to both
motivation and the motivation to eat healthy. Therefore, an individual’s brain
and nervous system affect how he or she processes motivating factors related to
eating healthy. Extrinsic and intrinsic factors both play a role in motivation
as related to eating healthy. Some of the extrinsic factors that contribute to
the motivation of eating healthy are social, and environmental perceptions, and
expectations, and positive reinforcement. Some of the intrinsic factors that
contribute to the motivation of eating healthy are evolutionary factors, genetic
factors, and serotonin system. Some motivating factors play more of an influential
role than others in relation to an individual’s motivation, which are important
factors as related to what pushes or pulls individuals into action.
Cherry, K. (2013). About.com: Psychology. Retrieved from
http://psychology.about.com/od/lindex/g/limbic-system.htm
Adcock, R.A., Thangavel, A., & Whitfield-Gabrieli, S.,
Knutson, B., Gabrieli, J.D.E. (2006, May). Reward-Motivated Learning:
Mesolimbic Activation Precedes Memory Formation. Neuron, 50(3), 507–517.
Placidi, R., Chandler, P., Oswald, K., Maldonado, C.,
Wauford, P., & Boggiano, M. (2004). Stress and hunger alter the anorectic
efficacy of fluoxetine in binge-eating rats with a history of caloric
restriction. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 36(3), 328-341.
O'Rahilly, S., & Farooqi, I. S. (2008, November).
Human Obesity: A Heritable Neurobehavioral Disorder That Is Highly Sensitive to
Environmental Conditions. Diabetes , 57(11), 2905–2910.
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