Intracerebroventricular administration of vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibits food intake.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a 28 amino acid peptide expressed throughout the peripheral and central nervous systems. VIP and the VIP receptor VPAC(2)R are expressed in hypothalamic nuclei involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. VIP has been shown to be involved in the regulation of energy balance in a number of non-mammalian vertebrates.

Appetite and hedonism: gut hormones and the brain.

Precise automatic control of food intake and energy expenditure maintains a steady weight and is fundamental to survival. The brainstem and hypothalamus are key areas within the brain that integrate peripheral signals from the gut and adipose tissue to control feeding behavior according to energy need. Gut hormones are released after a meal and signal to the brain to initiate meal termination and feelings of satiation.

The role of gut hormones and the hypothalamus in appetite regulation.

The World Health Organisation has estimated that by 2015 approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million obese. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular events, stroke and cancer.

Hypothalamic regulation of food intake and clinical therapeutic applications.

Current estimates suggest that over 1 billion people are overweight and over 300 million people are obese. Weight gain is due to an imbalance between energy expenditure and dietary intake. This review discusses the hypothalamic control of appetite and highlights key developments in research that have furthered our understanding of the complex pathways involved.

Hypothalamic regulation of appetite.

The prevalence of obesity is steadily rising and has huge health and financial implications for society. Weight gain is due to an imbalance between dietary intake and energy expenditure and research has focused on trying to understand the complex pathways involved in controlling these aspects. This review highlights the key areas of research in the hypothalamic control of appetite.