Social bonds and health: exploring the impact of social relations on oxytocin and brain–gut communication in shaping obesity

This research investigates the significant role of social relationships in health, specifically focusing on the independent and interactive effects of perceived emotional support (PES) and marital status on various obesity-related outcomes. A sample of 94 participants was analyzed to assess body mass index (BMI), eating behaviors, brain reactivity to food images, plasma oxytocin levels, and changes in the brain-gut microbiome (BGM) system. Utilizing structural equation modeling, the study elucidates the pathways that connect social factors to obesity outcomes. Results indicate that both marital status and PES independently and interactively contribute to lower BMI, healthier eating behaviors, heightened oxytocin levels, and altered brain responses to food stimuli, particularly in frontal regions associated with craving inhibition and executive control. Furthermore, the findings reveal associations with tryptophan-pathway metabolites that play roles in inflammation, immune regulation, and energy homeostasis.

In conclusion, the study underscores the importance of supportive human relationships, especially high-quality marital bonds, in modulating obesity risk through oxytocin-mediated changes in brain and gut pathways. [NPID: Social, relationships, emotional support, BMI, oxytocin, craving]

Year: 2025

Reference: Zhang, X., Dong, T. S., Gee, G. C., Kilpatrick, L. A., Beltran-Sanchez, H., Wang, M. C., Vaughan, A., & Church, A. (2025). Social bonds and health: exploring the impact of social relations on oxytocin and brain-gut communication in shaping obesity. Gut microbes, 17(1), 2566978. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2025.2566978

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