2nd Edition of International Obesity and Metabolism Conference 2026

Abstract

Dysfunction of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been critically implicated in food cravings. This study aimed to expand on existing findings by investigating gender differences in food cravings among healthy female (n=8; age=20.38 years; BMI=22.54) and male (n=9; age=20.67 years; BMI=20.89) participants. Off-line repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS; 15 minutes, 900 pulses) was administered to the left DLPFC and the vertex (control condition) before and after exposure to sweet food only. The desire for salty and sweet food consumption was then assessed using visual analogue scales (VAS) and calorie intake before and after rTMS. Results indicated that following vertex-rTMS (control condition), women expressed a higher desire for sweet foods compared to men, with no significant change in desire for salty foods. However, the desire for food remained stable before and after DLPFC-rTMS in both genders. No significant differences were observed in calorie consumption after either rTMS stimulation. These findings provide preliminary evidence of a brain mechanism where cognitive inhibition reduces the desire for sweet foods, suggesting that a lower ability to suppress cravings in women may contribute to gender differences in conditions such as binge eating disorder and obesity.