Research Blog
Mobile phones emit radio frequency-modulated electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). Greater than 80% of this radiation can enter the brain, influence cerebral glucose metabolism, modulate neuronal excitability, and affect cognitive motor processes, appetite, and food intake behavior. Children’s brains absorb even more of the EMFs than adult’s brains.
The hypothalamus and hippocampus play essential roles in food intake and body weight, and RF-EMF disruption in these areas is thought to contribute to the obesity epidemic.
A randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, cross-over study was performed on 15 normal-weight 21-29-year-old males to explore the association between mobile phone radiation exposure and altered food intake.
Schematic illustration of the laboratory setting. Individuals were exposed to two different continuously transmitting mobile phone types via a base station simulator working with maximal power vs. a deactivated phone as a sham condition.
Mobile phones were installed in a compact headset without being visible to the participants to ensure that each subject exhibited the same distance between the mobile phone and the head. The antenna was located over the right temporal region.
Participants were not given acoustic cues revealing the operation status of the mobile phones, i.e., they were unaware whether the phones were transmitting or not. Standardized buffet testing and MR-scanning procedure occurred in adjacent rooms.
Each subject was exposed to two types of mobile phones and a deactivated sham phone for 25 minutes at a time, with two weeks between each exposure. Following exposure, subjects were allowed to freely consume a variety of foods for 40 minutes.
The RF-EMF exposure increased brain energy metabolism and calorie intake increased by 22-27% for both activated phones compared to deactivated phones. The extra calories came primarily from carbohydrates but also from protein, with an insignificant increase in fat intake.
Researchers note that the increase in brain glucose metabolism following mobile phone RF-EMF exposure is similar to that associated with stress and hypocaloric diets in humans. They suggest that these brain changes not only lead to changes in appetite and food intake, but also may alter neurocognitive performance, behavioral control, and maintenance of mental health.
The World Health Organization developed the WHO Research Agenda for Radiofrequency Fields to study RF-EMFs' effects on humans.
Optimal Takeaways
- Twenty-five minutes of direct exposure to mobile phone RF-EMFs increased appetite and food intake, carbohydrate intake in particular
- The exposure altered brain glucose metabolism and may have additional adverse effects on cognition and behavior
- RF-EMFs are also emitted from WiFi, Bluetooth technology, radio, and television waves
- Minimizing direct exposure to RF-EMFs is advisable, especially in those prone to overeating or obesity
Reference
Wardzinski, Ewelina K et al. “Mobile Phone Radiation Deflects Brain Energy Homeostasis and Prompts Human Food Ingestion.” Nutrients vol. 14,2 339. 14 Jan. 2022, doi:10.3390/nu14020339 This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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