Treatment for obesity: a nutrient balance/nutrient partition approach.
This paper examines the treatment of obesity, using a feedback model of nutrient regulation. A feedback model contains afferent signals and a central controller that transduces afferent information into efferent signals that modulate the controlled system. Using this model and the receptor hypothesis for drug action, a variety of current and potential therapeutic approaches are discussed. Among the more promising approaches would be cholecystokinin agonists, small molecules that mimic ketoacids, agonists to corticotropin-releasing hormone, beta-3 agonists, antagonists to opioid peptides, antagonists to neuropeptide Y, glucocorticoid receptor antagonists, and growth hormone agonists. Since a number of mechanisms can influence body fat and nutrient partitioning, it is likely that optimal therapy will involve use of more than one pharmacologic agent.
Bray
G A
GA
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.
D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*