Project name: SENSing Inner BodiLy state: understanding the role of interoception in obEsity

Project acronym: SENSIBLE

Principal Investigator: Prof.ssa Giulia Camilla Mattavelli - https://www.iusspavia.it/it/rubrica/giulia-camilla-mattavelli 

CUP: I53D23004030001

Description: Obesity is a complex and multifaceted medical condition in which excessive accumulation of body fat has a significant negative impact on health. It results from a complex interaction between biological, psychological, behavioral, and sociocultural factors. Recently, theoretical discussion has highlighted a possible key role for the perception of internal physiological states of the body (i.e., interoception) in the development and maintenance of this pathology. Specifically, it has been proposed that a defect in the processing of interoceptive information and/or its integration with exteroceptive signals could be a key hallmark of obesity. However, whether, how, and to what extent the variety of internal bodily sensations influences the behavioral, cognitive, and emotional dimensions of obesity remain key open questions. The objective of the SENSIBLE project is twofold: a) to thoroughly investigate, at the functional and neurocognitive level, the relationship between interoception and some key aspects of obesity (e.g., food perception, implicit attitudes, impulsivity, and emotional eating) and b) to define a global model of the role of interoception in the multiple aspects and behavioral manifestations of obesity.

Funding Institution: MUR - Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca

Project starting date: 05/10/2023

Project end date: 28/02/2026