Central nervous system control of food intake and body weight

GJ Morton, DE Cummings, DG Baskin, GS Barsh… - Nature, 2006 - nature.com
GJ Morton, DE Cummings, DG Baskin, GS Barsh, MW Schwartz
Nature, 2006nature.com
The capacity to adjust food intake in response to changing energy requirements is essential
for survival. Recent progress has provided an insight into the molecular, cellular and
behavioural mechanisms that link changes of body fat stores to adaptive adjustments of
feeding behaviour. The physiological importance of this homeostatic control system is
highlighted by the severe obesity that results from dysfunction of any of several of its key
components. This new information provides a biological context within which to consider the …
Abstract
The capacity to adjust food intake in response to changing energy requirements is essential for survival. Recent progress has provided an insight into the molecular, cellular and behavioural mechanisms that link changes of body fat stores to adaptive adjustments of feeding behaviour. The physiological importance of this homeostatic control system is highlighted by the severe obesity that results from dysfunction of any of several of its key components. This new information provides a biological context within which to consider the global obesity epidemic and identifies numerous potential avenues for therapeutic intervention and future research.
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