Abstract:

The prevalence of obesity has been rapidly increasing worldwide over the last several decades and has become a major health problem in developed countries. The hypothalamus is a key region which possesses reciprocal connections between the higher cortical centres such as reward-related limbic pathways,and the brainstem,it plays a key role in the control of food intake by integrating a number of peripheral signals which modulate food intake and energy balance.The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin and ancreatic β cell derived insulin inform adiposity to the hypothalamus.Cholecysto-kinin(CK),peptide YY(PYY),pancreatic polypeptide(PP),glucagon-like peptide 1(GLP-1) and oxyntomodulin(OXM) transfer satiety signals to the brain and ghrelin relays hunger signals.Nutrients are also involved in the physiological regulation of food intake.In this article,the  central and peripheral  mechanisms of appetite regulation were reviewed and  the possible mechanisms of obesity were discussed.

Key words: obesity, appetite, hypothalamus, leptin