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

This research examines the significant impact of social relationships on health, specifically focusing on the independent and interactive effects of perceived emotional support (PES) and marital status (married vs. unmarried) on various obesity-related outcomes. The study measured body mass index (BMI), eating behaviors, brain reactivity to food stimuli, plasma oxytocin levels, and alterations in the brain-gut microbiome (BGM) system among 94 participants. Using structural equation modeling, the researchers identified pathways linking social factors to obesity outcomes.

Results indicate that both marital status and PES have independent and interactive effects that promote lower BMI, healthier eating behaviors, and increased oxytocin levels. Additionally, enhanced brain responses to food cues in frontal regions associated with craving inhibition and executive control were observed, along with alterations in tryptophan-pathway metabolites linked to inflammation and energy homeostasis. These findings underscore the importance of supportive human relationships, particularly high-quality marital bonds, in regulating obesity risk through oxytocin-mediated changes in brain and gut pathways. [NPID: MGBA, social relationships, BMI, oxytocin]

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). https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2025.2566978

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