Lack of Self-Control Under Stress Does Not Cause Binge Eating, Brain Scan Study Shows

A new neuroimaging study showed alterations of stress responses and self-regulatory inhibitory function associated with binge eating, but showed stress-induced failures of inhibitory control do not provide a comprehensive explanation for binge eating. Brain scans showed stress alters brain activity associated with inhibitory control in women with eating disorders but had no effect on their ability to stop their actions, suggesting more complex underlying causes for binge eating.