The endocrinologist explains how hormones can interfere in cases of obesity
The global incidence of obesity is increasing rapidly, according to the 2023 World Obesity Atlas. In Brazil, it is estimated that 41% of the adult population will be obese by 2035. The annual growth rate of obesity among adults is 2.8%. while childhood obesity in Brazil is growing at an alarming rate of 4.4% per year, according to the World Obesity Federation.
Currently, 22.4% of the Brazilian adult society is obese. In children, there are already 6.4 million overweight children and 3.1 million obese children in the country. This high prevalence leads to many other complications and diseases.
Relationship between hunger and appetite and metabolism
Tassiane Alvarenga, endocrinologist and metabolologist at SBEM, explains that hunger is controlled by hormones that monitor appetite and metabolism. In the short or long term, they act predominantly in a region of the hypothalamus known as the arcuate nucleus, the center where the main control of regulatory systems resides.
For the arcuate nucleus converge two types of neurons that exert opposite actions: the stimulation and the inhibition of appetite. “The desire to eat that we experience comes from a correct balance between these antagonistic circuits regulated by hormones,” explains the doctor.
Know the hormones that control appetite? The professional introduces each one and demystifies their myths and truths.
We only eat when we are hungry.
Myth. According to the expert, hunger is a physiological sensation that makes us seek out and eat food to meet our daily nutrient needs. The act of ingesting food is caused by a series of stimuli (or signals).
Among the stimuli is the decrease in the body of the amount of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, fats, or even the decrease of the internal temperature. This, consequently, stimulates the production of a hormone in the stomach called ghrelin, which reaches the brain and activates an entire endocrinological cascade which motivates the appetite.
It all starts with that feeling of an empty stomach, with the drop in blood sugar and the lowering of body temperature, stimuli for the production of ghrelin. “It is very important for appetite control – produced in the stomach and small intestine, with some of it released in the pancreas and brain. It is called the ‘hunger hormone’ because of its role in appetite control (one of its functions),” explains Dr. Tassian.
We only have one hormone that generates hunger
REAL. GLP-1 is produced by L cells in the ileum and colon when food arrives in this portion of the intestine. It performs various functions, such as: reduction of gastric emptying and activation of brain areas related to satiety, as well as decreasing the taste for high-calorie foods.
“The half-life of endogenous GLP-1 is only 5 minutes. There are currently GLP-1 analogues on the market that try to mimic the action of this hormone to promote satiety, reducing gluttony and reducing the appetite for tasty things,” says the specialist.
analogous hormones
Peptide YY (PYY) is produced by intestinal L cells, mainly present in the colon and rectum, by the arrival of fatty foods in this portion of the intestine. Similar to GLP-1, PYY inhibits hunger pathways and stimulates satiety pathways.
Finally, there is achocholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone also produced by the L cells of the gastrointestinal tract. In the face of the arrival of fats and proteins in this portion of the intestine, it stimulates the secretion of pancreatic digestive enzymes and bile secretion, directly inhibiting gastric emptying and appetite.
Obese patients have too much leptin
REAL. Leptin is one of the hormones directly linked to body fat and obesity. It is released from fat cells and sends signals to the hypothalamus, helping regulate and change food intake and energy expenditure over the long term. If the individual gains weight, leptin levels will rise.
What does leptin do?
Leptin can be called hormone of satiety, as it helps inhibit hunger and regulate energy balance, so that the body does not trigger appetite responses when it does not need energy. However, when levels of the hormone drop (which happens when an individual loses weight), the lower levels can trigger binge eating. This, in turn, can make it more difficult to lose and maintain weight.
“When the body is functioning properly, cells with excess fat produce leptin, which stimulates the hypothalamus to decrease appetite. Unfortunately, when someone is obese, despite having a lot of leptin in their blood, due to the inflammation of obesity, This leptin doesn’t work properly, a condition known as leptin resistance: that is, the satiety pathway doesn’t work,” explains Dr. Tassiane Alvarenga.
eating is addictive
Partially true! Everyone has another type of appetite known as hedonic appetite, which is linked to the pleasure of eating: it activates the brain reward system (hedonic hunger), linked to pleasure, and makes the individual eat not hungry.
Neuroscientists have concluded that the feeling of happiness originates in the brain, more precisely in the pleasure centers: it is a complex network of neurons that is activated when activities that bring happiness are performed.
By Michelly Souza
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
