Damage to which brain region would likely result in continued eating and potential obesity?

• A. Ventromedial hypothalamus
• B. Lateral hypothalamus
• C. Prefrontal cortex
• D. Amygdala

Answer: (A)

Damage to the ventromedial hypothalamus disrupts satiety signals, so the normal cue to stop eating fails. The ventromedial hypothalamus acts as a satiety center; when it’s damaged, individuals (and animals) can overeat and gain weight, leading to obesity. In contrast, damage to the lateral hypothalamus—the hunger center—tends to reduce eating, not promote it. The prefrontal cortex handles planning and self-control, and the amygdala influences emotional responses to food, but neither is the primary regulator of hunger. So, the region whose damage most reliably leads to continued eating and potential obesity is the ventromedial hypothalamus.