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The Cyclical Nature of Food Reinforcement, Decision-making, and Overeating

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Kyle S. Burger, Ph.D., MPH, RD

Kyle Burger, Ph.D., MPH, RD

Associate Professor 
Department of Nutrition
Gillings School of Public Health
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Pioneers in Biomedical Research Seminar: The Cyclical Nature of Food Reinforcement, Decision-making, and Overeating

Date: Oct. 14, 2022

Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

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About this Seminar

Reward-related brain-based models of obesity have been well-studied in the last decade. However, there are few data addressing key aspects underlying habitual overeating and the factors that drive food-related decision-making and identifying early risk factors. Here, Dr. Burger presents a series of studies that demonstrate aberrant reward processing occurs with overeating, independent of adiposity, examine causal factors of these brain patterns that contribute to overeating, and provide a theoretical model of underlying overeating risk factors.

Additional Details

This is a free event hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and co-sponsored by the institute's Center for Human Neuroscience Research. The Pioneers in Biomedical Research Seminar Series, which runs annually from September to May, has featured leading biomedical researchers from throughout the country since the program began in 2012. The lectures are also open to all members of the Virginia Tech community including graduate students, undergraduates, faculty, and staff, as well as the public.

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