How the Brain Regulates Hunger, Fullness and Eating

The brain stem helps regulate food intake by receiving hunger and fullness signals from the body. Studies involving rats suggest that, while the brain stem supports basic feeding functions, higher brain regions are needed for an animal to seek out and consume solid food. The hypothalamus also has a major role in hunger control. Chemicals such as melanin-concentrating hormone, orexin, neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein can stimulate eating. Research in mice has linked excess melanin-concentrating hormone activity to overeating and obesity. Fullness is influenced by leptin, a hormone that acts on the hypothalamus. Leptin can reduce hunger-related signals, while substances including CART and alpha-MSH also help suppress appetite.

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