We gain pounds and blame ourselves for a lot of misbehavior without knowing why it's not the fat in the chocolate bar or the sugar in the ketchup bags;
It's about unity.
This is according to a new study - published in the journal Nature last August - that describes how prolonged isolation from society leads to changes in genes, neural activity and behavior in humans.
Our bodies and loneliness
Researchers at Rockefeller University chose fruit flies because they are social creatures that feed on food, live in groups, and have some complex rituals such as mating and miniature boxing matches.
Fruit flies sleep 16 hours a day, split between naps during the day and rest throughout the night, and the researchers found that the more they studied their societies, they found basic patterns in the societies of mammals and humans.
The researchers tried to simulate the conditions of total and partial closures during the past months, in the wake of the spread of the Corona virus, by trapping flies inside tubes.
The trapped flies did not show any abnormal behaviors for 7 days, and even after changing groups, the flies that had been cut off showed no difference, and were satisfied with their new group.
The researchers isolated a single fly in each tube for a period of 1 to 3 days, or chronically isolated from 5 to 7 continuous days.
The lone fruit flies began to double their usual food intake, and the number of hours of sleep decreased, like many humans.
Examination of the flies' heads revealed remarkable genetic changes, including genes related to the neural pathways of sleep and hunger, that created a significant association between isolation and overeating.
The researchers explained the results that many social creatures - ranging from fruit flies to humans - eat more and sleep less in solitude because of the uncertainty that social isolation may leave behind, so the creature prepares for difficult times by remaining alert and alert as much as possible, and eating food whenever it is Available, for fear of not being available in times of danger.
A British study linked isolation and suicidal thoughts during the total closure (communication sites)
The American Psychological Association (APA) published the results of surveys among Americans consistent with this study, when more than 60% of young people between 18 and 42 years reported an unwanted weight gain since the beginning of the pandemic, and mental health problems increased, Including disturbed sleep during that period, rates of sexual harassment and race-based violence rose despite social distancing.
Surprisingly, this percentage declined between married people and fathers, only to return to the increase with the elderly.
This result was not only among Americans, as a British study linked isolation and suicidal thoughts during the total lockdown, especially among young people, women and people deprived of social contact.
The researchers conducted three surveys on 3,000 adults since the total closure began in March 2020, and found that the proportion of young people between the ages of 18 and 25 reported their desire to end their lives at a greater and increasing rate over time as they lacked a social life.
None of the respondents suffered from psychological or mental illness, but one in four experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms after interrupting work and visiting relatives.
Another investigation by the Guardian newspaper on the mental effects of lockdown found a sharp rise in complaints of sleep problems, eating disorders and self-harm. The data showed that prescriptions for sleeping pills rose by 30% among teens and young adults during 2020.
The result was repeated with the application to the people of Japan, by following up on 7 thousand citizens through periods of total closure.
The results showed that most of the respondents without social isolation had healthier behaviors, more social interactions, good relationships at a distance, and lower levels of loneliness and psychological stress;
As for the respondents who are not married or without fathers or who are deprived of social contact, their psychological and behavioral status deteriorated.
Poll: More than 60% of young people between 18 and 42 years have experienced an unwanted weight gain since the beginning of the pandemic (Pixabay)
A need, not a luxury
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania found an explanation for the deterioration of mental and psychological health during isolation, and pointed out that social isolation is a silent killer that raises the severity of a variety of serious diseases, such as Alzheimer's and diabetes, and activates stress and stress cells that lead to premature aging.
Those findings correlate with what neuroscientist Bruce McEwen found in 2002, who found that stress is the most important public health issue in modern times, and that when chronically activated, it can cause damage and accelerate disease.
Other research has shown that many social stressors - such as poverty, low education, and racism - can contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and depression.
So far, we have at least two decades of research findings indicating that we are influenced by our social context, and our social lives are shaped by our neurological and cognitive functions, even the features of our cells and our ability to pass on our genetics, which makes it perfectly normal to feel the need to interact with others after a while. long solitude, as we feel the need for food and drink.
Although we do not yet know the ideal social communication methods to avoid disease, anyone can try the Zoom application during the epidemic to meet their social needs, and thus eliminate the nervous activity of stress and stress.