Can Hormones Regulating Appetite be a Major Factor Contributing to Obesity?
Obesity is a growing problem throughout the whole world; it is a complex condition that causes much suffering. There are many factors associated with obesity. Those factors include; individual genetics, increased food intake, and/or a lack of physical exercise. In addition hormonal balance plays a very critical role in weight control. There are a number of established hormonal disorders that is associated with obesity. The most common syndromes include Cushing’s syndrome and Hypothyroidism.
It is a secreted by the mucosal cells in the duodenum, as well as by neurons in the brain, following consumption of a meal especially fat. The mechanism of action of CCK includes stimulation of gastric acid, gallbladder and pancreatic secretion, modulation of gastrointestinal motility and suppression of energy intake. It plays a role in the regulation of appetite and energy intake, It induces post-prandial satiety.
This coupled with incomplete understanding of all factors responsible of appetite regulation and prevention of obesity. GIT hormones act through a short term effect; peptides as GLP-1 decrease hypothalamic AMPK activity leading to reduction in food intake, while ghrelin leads to AMPK activation and increased food intake. On the other hand, long term effect produced through peripheral adipose tissue hormones as leptin and adiponectin.
Plasma insulin levels are most sensitive to changes in blood glucose concentrations. Insulin binds to its receptor to initiate GLUT-4 in order to allow glucose to enter the cell either for energy production or storage. In addition, Plasma insulin concentrations depend on peripheral insulin sensitivity, which is related to both total body fat stores and fat distribution, with visceral fat being a key determinant.
Obes Res Open J. 2015; 2(1): 39-41. doi: 10.17140/OROJ-2-107
